Interstate 79 has seen multiple crashes since work began on four bridges in Harrison County, W.Va., according to traffic records.
From March 23, 2023, to earlier this week, there have been approximately 215 crashes between mile marker 106 to 112, according to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.
Construction concluded on the two northernmost bridges earlier this year near the 110 mile mark. Two other bridges are still being worked on near the 107 mile mark with traffic down to one lane.
Construction began on March 9, 2023, with construction being on schedule, according to West Virginia Division of Highway District 4 engineers.
"A lot of these accidents happen after midnight because they (construction workers) aren't working on the roads at that time. So, people just speed through there, and a lot of them happen in the evening and overnight hours," said Lorri Robey, the administrative assistant of the Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Headquarters in Clarksburg.
Mile marker 110 has seen 69 accidents, the most during that period according to Robey.
Officials are urging motorists to be cautious on that section of the freeway.
The interstate was partially shut down on July 15 after a vehicle burst into flames. The fire happened just before 3 p.m. and both lanes were shut down. One lane reopened at 5 p.m. after the fire was extinguished.
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Source: The Inter Mountain, WVNews.com
