State Awards Major Bridge Rehabilitation Contract, Local Road Work Also Funded

The West Virginia Division of Highways announced on December 22 that Brayman Construction Corporation will rehabilitate both spans of the Oakvale Bridge in Mercer County, following a December 9 bid letting. The winning bid for the Oakvale Bridge project totaled $10,693,066.17. The two bridges, which carry U.S. 460 over Fivemile Creek, were built in 1972 and each currently carries about 10,400 vehicles per day, underscoring the strategic importance of the work.

Planned work on the Oakvale structures includes replacing the concrete bridge decks, converting each abutment to a semi integral configuration to eliminate expansion joints at the ends of the bridges, repairing areas of deterioration on concrete abutments and piers, spot painting localized areas of paint failure on steel girders, and applying a concrete protective coating to concrete surfaces. State engineers said these measures are intended to increase expected service life and to maximize the original taxpayer investment in the bridges.

The December 22 awards included 10 other projects statewide. Of particular relevance to McDowell County, West Virginia Paving Inc. received a $449,630 contract for micropile slide repair, resurfacing and guardrail work on WV 161. That project targets slope stability and roadway surfacing on a route that serves local commuters and freight movement, and will be among the smaller but locally significant investments announced alongside the large Oakvale contract.

Before awarding contracts the Division compares bids to its engineer estimate, evaluates the need for the work, checks funding availability, and considers the consequences of delaying the project. Most projects are reviewed and awarded within a week of the letting, though some bids require additional analysis. For McDowell County residents the award signals attention to persistent slide and pavement issues, and the state action should help maintain safer, more reliable travel on a key local route while longer term maintenance plans proceed.