U.S. Route 19/Birch River Interchange
Nicholas County, WV

HSMM provided engineering services for the improvement of U.S. Route 19 from a two-lane road to a four-lane divided highway with limited access at Birch River, in Nicholas County, West Virginia.  The approximately two-mile long project was centered on a diamond interchange with Route 1.  The overall project required 1.6 million cubic yards of excavation and construction of 8 bridges.  Due to an accelerated schedule dictated by the project funding, the entire project, from performance of field surveys to completion of contract plans, was completed in less than one year.

The design, and maintenance of traffic plans, had to take into account that at the southern end of the project, the two new lanes were sited west of the existing road.  At the northern end, the situation was reversed, with the two new lanes located east of the existing roadway.

The bridges consist of continuous, prestressed concrete girder structures with integral abutments.

The construction required making extensive cuts-some as high as 75 meters-into the surrounding mountains.

The final result was an impressive stretch of highway that met all the client’s criteria.  The finished project included innovative bridge construction features, as well as bridge designs that mitigate flood potential for the town of Birch River.