The Beckley Z-Way’s Section One is a 3.6-mile, three-lane roadway widening project between the unincorporated communities of Shady Spring and Beaver in western Raleigh County.
A center turn lane will be added to US-19/WV-3, which is currently a two-lane road. Throughout most of this section, the existing two-lane road will have an asphalt overlay with full depth pavement added on the sides of the existing road for the additional lane.
Section One will include:
- 3.6 miles
- 16,000 vehicles per day
- Culverts
- Retaining walls
- Road widening
- Utility relocations
Phases of Construction
During duration of Section One: Relocation of utilities are ongoing throughout the entire project area and in some cases beyond the project limits. Overhead line work and pole relocations are taking place from Rt. 3 working toward Beaver currently.
Mountaineer Gas is operating from Rt. 3 toward Beaver relocating underground gas lines with drilling and trenching operations in various locations.
Expect delays and temporary work zone setups throughout the duration of these relocations. Exercise caution through these work zones, expect delays, and in some events stopped traffic.
Phase 2A – Rt. 3 and Rt. 19 Intersection to Glenwood Lane (currently active): Traffic is transitioned to the existing left shoulder for Phase 2A construction operations. Work to be expected in this phase includes water line relocations, sewer line relocations, drainage structure installation, and roadway build-up and widening. Paving operations expected to begin the second week of October.
Phase 2B – Glenwood Lane to Ransom Drive (currently active): Traffic is transitioned to the existing right shoulder for Phase 2B construction operations. Work to be expected in this phase includes water line relocations, sewer line relocations, drainage structure installation, and roadway build-up and widening. Paving operations expected to begin the second week of October.
Phase 2C – Ransom Drive to Glade Springs/Lake Drive (currently active): Traffic will be transitioned to the left existing road. Lane widths throughout each Phase where traffic has been shifted into an existing shoulder are reduced to 10’. Heavy work activities from Rt 3 through Glade Springs. Paving operations expected to begin the second week of October.
Phase 2D – Glade Springs/Lake Drive to just beyond Mathis Drive at Green River Garden Center and Landscape (currently active): Traffic will be transitioned to the existing right shoulder for temporary detour during Phase 2D construction operations, which would consist of water line relocations, sewer line relocations, roadway build-up and widening operations, and box culvert installation. Lane widths throughout each Phase where traffic has been shifted into an existing shoulder are reduced to 10’. Paving operations expected to begin the second week of October.
Phase 2E – Green River Garden Center and Landscape to Bobcat of Beckley (currently active): Traffic is transitioned to the existing left shoulder for temporary detour during Phase 2E construction operations. Work to be expected in this phase includes water line relocations, sewer line relocations, drainage structure installation, and roadway build-up and widening. Lane widths throughout each Phase where traffic has been shifted into an existing shoulder are reduced to 10’. Paving operations expected to begin the second week of October.
Phase 2F – Bobcat of Beckley to Raleigh Center Road (currently active): Traffic will transition to the existing right shoulder for temporary detour during Phase 2F construction operations. Work to be expected in this phase include water line relocations, sewer line relocations, drainage structure installation, and roadway build-up and widening. Lane widths throughout each Phase where traffic has been shifted into an existing shoulder are reduced to 10’. Paving operations expected to begin the second week of October.
Phase 2G – Raleigh Center Road to 4-H Lake Road: Traffic will transition to the existing left shoulder for temporary detour during Phase 2G construction operations. Work to be expected in this phase include water line relocations, sewer line relocations, drainage structure installation, and roadway build-up and widening.
Phase 2H – 4-H Lake Road to Regency Drive: Traffic will transition to the existing right shoulder for temporary detour during Phase 2H construction operations. Work to be expected in this phase include water line relocations, sewer line relocations, drainage structure installation, and roadway build-up and widening.
Phase 2J – Regency Drive to Granby Circle: Traffic will transition to the existing left shoulder for temporary detour during Phase 2J construction operations. Work to be expected in this phase include water line relocations, sewer line relocations, drainage structure installation, and roadway build-up and widening.
Phase 2K – Granby Circle to tie-in with Beaver-to-S.-Eisenhower project: Traffic will transition to the existing right shoulder for temporary detour during Phase 2K construction operations. Work to be expected in this phase include water line relocations, sewer line relocations, drainage structure installation, and roadway build-up and widening.
Updates and Traffic Expectations
– (Posted 6/24/25) Day shift shoulder repair operations on Rt. 19 between 5th Street and Hampton Road scheduled to take place beginning July 7. Rt. 19 will be reduced to one-lane alternating configuration during construction.
– (Posted 6/24/25) Night shift paving operations scheduled to begin the week of July 7 from 5th Street to 4H Lake Road. This work could take place all week.
– (Posted 6/24/25) Night shift milling operations from 5th Street to 4H Lake Road to begin the evening of Wednesday, June 25. Scheduled to conclude on Friday, June 27, with Saturday night being “if needed.”
– (Posted 1/31/25) Restriping the roadway to begin throughout project section. Starting around the first week of February, restriping will begin on the roadway throughout the Shady Spring to Beaver section. This is likely a multi-day operation that will cause travel delays.
– (Posted 11/22/24) Paving operations completed for the season.
– (Posted 11/22/24) New construction to begin soon. Construction of retaining wall #2 between Exxon and Bobcat on Rt. 19 and the Trump Street Box Culvert expected to begin soon. Waterline construction expected to begin first or second week of December – working primarily from Rt. 3 toward Beaver. Continued utilities relocations throughout the project limits.
– (Posted 11/11/24) Paving operations beginning at 5th Street/Hampton/Underwood connector and Fincastle Street connector. Update – paving operations complete.
– (Posted 11/1/24) Granby Circle, near Grace Baptist Church, will be closed for water line construction.
– (Posted 10/4/24) Paving operations beginning October 14. This will cause significant delays to traffic on Rt. 19 during these paving operations. Update – paving operations complete.
– (Posted 9/27/24) Heavy construction traffic around Glade Dip and 4-H Lake Road.
– (Posted 9/27/24) Paving operations expected to begin the second week of October. Paving will continue throughout Phases 2A to 2F.
– (Posted Sept. 2024) Various utility relocations work still being conducted throughout the project limits. This work will require a variety of temporary traffic control measures and work zones, these operations will at times cause delays to traffic.
– (Posted Aug. 2024) Expected to begin construction of Glade Dip box culvert within the first two weeks of September. This work will introduce heavier truck traffic in and out of the work zone for materials deliveries and embankment build-up. Exercise caution and be mindful of heavy equipment/trucks in and around the work zone.
– (Posted Aug. 2024)Expect striping and temporary barrier installations for two weeks in late August to early September, continuing from Underwood Road working toward Beaver. This work will require traffic being reduced to one lane, which will cause larger delays at times. Plan accordingly or take alternate routes when possible. We will update with more specific dates for these operations once that information is available.
– (Posted Aug. 2024) Current construction operations for relocated Hampton Road connector to Rt. 19. Be mindful of heavy trucks entering and exiting these work zones.
– (Posted Aug. 2024) Current construction operations for relocated Fincastle Street connector to Rt. 19. Be mindful of heavy trucks entering and exiting these work zones.