TUNNELTON — Work to address flooding problems in the Tunnelton underpass and on W.Va. 26 continues, according to the state.
Michael Cronin, West Virginia Division of Highways (DOH) District 4 Engineer, said there is a design project coming for a drainage improvement plan along W.Va. 26 through Tunnelton.
“The drainage plan is nearly complete and we should have the final copy from the designer to review by end of next week,” he said.
Cronin said the drainage plan should help eliminate the ponding of water along Route 26.
In an email, Jennifer Jo Dooley, West Virginia Department of Transportation Information Corps manager, said the DOH planned to eliminate the flooding by adequately sizing new drainage and abandoning the current undersized drainage system.
The underpass takes vehicles under CSX train tracks, through a short tunnel from W.Va. 26 to the other side of Tunnelton.
During heavy rains, it floods. It also causes flooding on W.Va. 26.
Larger vehicles, including fire trucks and ambulances, have to go around, delaying them by as much as 15 minutes.
When the fire trucks come out onto Bonafield Street, there is a steep lip at the edge of the road, and the road can twist the trucks’ frames, firefighters have said.
The exit is also on a curve.
The brick road going into the underpass on one side belongs to the town, W.Va. 26 on the other side is the property of the state and the right-of-way under the railroad is CSX’s responsibility due to a 1912 agreement.
“Thank you for reaching out. However, this is a West Virginia Department of Highways project and defer to them for any comments,” Sheriee S. Bowman, media relations for CSX Transportation wrote in an email this week, when asked about the project.
In 2018, the West Virginia Legislature passed House Bill 2984, granting priority to roadway construction, reconstruction and maintenance for roadways prone to recurring floods that hinder ingress and egress. The bill was effective June 1, 2018.
Icy conditions at the underpass at Tunnelton. 
Icy conditions at the underpass at Tunnelton. 
Icy conditions at the underpass at Tunnelton. 
Icy conditions at the underpass at Tunnelton. 
Icy conditions at the underpass at Tunnelton.
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