Harman Patil (Editor)

West Virginia Route 2

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Existed:
  
1920s – present

North end:
  
US 30 in Chester

South end:
  
US 60 in Huntington

Length
  
371.1 km

Counties
  
Hancock County, West Virginia

West virginia route 250 bethlehem wv to hundred wv 2 of 3 twisty


West Virginia Route 2 is a state highway in the US state of West Virginia. It generally parallels the Ohio River along the western border of the state, from U.S. Route 60 in Huntington (just west of the East End Bridge) northeasterly to U.S. Route 30 in Chester (just south of the Jennings Randolph Memorial Bridge).

Contents

Map of WV-2, West Virginia, USA

WV 2 leaves the shores of the Ohio River in two places: between Point Pleasant and Mount Alto (where West Virginia Route 62 follows the river) and between Ravenswood and Waverly (where West Virginia Route 68 mostly follows the river).

West virginia route 250 bethlehem wv to hundred wv 3 of 3 twisty


Huntington to Parkersburg

WV 2 was reconstructed from Lesage to Glenwood as an improved two-lane highway with shoulders on a four-lane right-of-way in the mid-1980s. Currently, there are long-range plans to widen WV 2 from WV 193 near Barboursville northeast to Point Pleasant to four lanes at a cost of $237,300,000. Even further down the road is WV 2 widening from Point Pleasant to Interstate 77 at a cost of $207,300,000. The projects are ranked 86th and 98th,respectively.

Parkersburg to Wheeling

Within the six-year plan produced by the West Virginia Department of Transportation is a four-lane upgrade for WV 2 between McKeefrey and Parkersburg. Ranked 55th, this project has an estimated price tag of $432,000,000.

Wheeling to Chester

WV 2 is a variable two-lane and four-lane highway from Wheeling to its northern terminus at Chester.

For a time, Route 2 deviated from its current alignment to follow a more northeasterly route from New Cumberland to US 30 via the unincorporated area of New Manchester. The current alignment of WV 2 passing the Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort to US 30 was formerly numbered WV 66 and is reflected as such in many of the county highways in the area. The former routing of WV 2 is now WV 8.

On June 23, 2000, work began on a project that widened WV 2 from two to four lanes from Weirton at US 22 (Robert C. Byrd Expressway) south to CR 8 near Follansbee. The project length was just 0.9 miles. Work was supposed to be complete by June 31, 2001, however, construction wrapped up on October 31 at a cost of $21,444,875. The project entailed stabilizing the hillside by reshaping the highwall, widening the roadway with four 12-foot (3.7 m) lanes, creating 10-foot (3.0 m) outside shoulders, and 8-foot (2.4 m) interior shoulders. 3.9 million cubic yards of earth were removed during the excavation process.

One year later, the highway widening project progressed further south for 2.5 miles (4.0 km).

There are currently plans to widen WV 2 from two to four lanes from US 22 north to Chester at a cost of $463,900,000; this would include a bypass of New Cumberland and would also correct rockfall hazards along the entire length. Likewise, a project to widen WV 2 from two to four lanes from Follansbee south to Wheeling is projected to cost $489,500,000. This would connect to an incomplete interchange at Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 250 and include a northern bypass of Wheeling. The projects are ranked 45th and 48th, respectively.

References

West Virginia Route 2 Wikipedia