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Charleston

Fort Hill Bridge Repairs Begin in Charleston

The West Virginia Department of Transportation starts a $75 million replacement project on the Fort Hill Bridge, with completion expected in summer 2028.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Home Renovation

Close view of a weathered steel bridge beam and concrete deck underside, with a fresh concrete patch and a concrete barrier beside a river valley.
West Virginia transportation officials began a $75 million Fort Hill Bridge replacement in Charleston, due by summer 2028. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The West Virginia Department of Transportation has begun a nearly $75 million Fort Hill Bridge construction project in Charleston, involving repairs to the bridge deck and support beams. The project is expected to be fully complete in summer 2028.

Why it matters

The Department of Transportation says repeated patchwork repairs have been insufficient and replacement is necessary for the bridge that carries about 100,000 vehicles daily. Charleston residents and commuters should expect changes to traffic patterns throughout the multi-year project.

The project totals nearly $75 million and affects a bridge carrying about 100,000 vehicles daily. Specific lane closure schedules and detour timing have not been detailed in the available information.

The players

West Virginia Department of Transportation

The state agency responsible for maintaining and repairing state highways and bridges, including the Fort Hill Bridge in Charleston.

Triton

The construction company contracted to carry out the Fort Hill Bridge repair and replacement project.

The details

Repairs use replacement components built with advanced, high-tech materials used by the industry, following several earlier rounds of repairs over prior years and seasons. Fire departments have met with the Department of Transportation about half a dozen times and remain in constant communication with the construction company, Triton, to adapt routes and personnel plans.

Timeline

  1. About one year before November 4, 2026: Fire departments began planning after the project was announced.

  2. November 4, 2026: Fort Hill Bridge construction project begins.

  3. Summer 2028: Bridge road is expected to be fully ready.

Roadmap

The Department of Transportation's stated shift from repeated patchwork repairs to full replacement marks a departure from the approach it took on this bridge over earlier years and seasons. The project reflects a decision to replace rather than continue incremental fixes on a structure carrying roughly 100,000 vehicles daily.

Commuters crossing the Fort Hill Bridge should plan for changes in traffic patterns during the construction period. Navigation apps such as Waze can help monitor construction and detours as the project progresses.

The takeaway

Planning ahead for a multi-year bridge project can reduce daily commute frustration, especially when the public stays informed through official updates. Checking traffic tools regularly will help drivers adjust routes as construction phases change.

What happens next

The Department of Transportation will keep the public updated on bridge developments as the project progresses toward its summer 2028 completion.

Further reading

Explore more Home Renovation coverage to see how large-scale infrastructure repairs compare with everyday upgrades.

Source note: This article includes information reported by WCHS.

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Is now a good time for your city to start major bridge replacements despite traffic delays?