I-79 Chaplin Hill Gateway Project moves closer to construction
MORGANTOWN, WV – The West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT), along with project partners the Monongalia County Commission and WestRidge, today announced the Interstate 79 Chaplin Hill Gateway Project is one step closer to construction. WVDOT has officially advertised the first phase of the project and is now accepting bids for construction of the improvement work that will serve as a major gateway to western Monongalia County.Phase 1 of the I-79 Chaplin Hill Gateway Project will include replacement of the I-79 bridges over Chaplin Hill Road. Work is expected to begin in spring 2027. Future improvement work, to be bid in future construction packages, will include a new interchange, a flyover ramp that will improve traffic flow through the US 19 and WV 7 intersection, roadway widening and construction of multi-modal connections. “The vision for the I-79 Chaplin Hill Gateway Project began nearly a decade ago,” said West Virgina Transportation Secretary Stephen T. Rumbaugh, P.E. “It took teamwork, perseverance, and a shared belief in this project, but we got it done.“Along with our partners, the Mon County Commission and WestRidge, we’ve been able to successfully leverage the investment needed to make this project a reality,” Rumbaugh said.Innovative Public Private Partnership Provides Investment Needed to Support ProjectIn 2023, the WVDOT, the Monongalia County Commission, and WestRidge were awarded a $54.3 million grant from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) through the competitive Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program. These funds, coupled with $67.2 million from the WVDOT and an additional $10 million investment from Monongalia County and WestRidge, provided the full funding needed to advance the project.
In July 2025, the parties announced the execution of a collaboration agreement to outline each party’s responsibilities and have since worked in close coordination to reach this milestone. Bids for Phase 1 of the I-79 Chaplin Hill Gateway Project will be accepted through Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
