WVDOH accepts bids for next section of Coalfields Expressway

A project to build a 3-mile connector road from WV 10 in Pineville to Twin Falls State Park is among 28 construction projects included in a bid letting conducted by the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. It is the latest section of the Coalfields Expressway to go out for bid. "The Coalfields Expressway is an important project for southern West Virginia," said state Transportation Secretary Stephen Todd Rumbaugh, P.E. "This section is especially important for Wyoming County and those who wish to visit Twin Falls State Park. We look forward to awarding this contract within the next few weeks." Also known as US 121, the Coalfields Expressway is a four-lane highway that will eventually connect Beckley in Raleigh County with Pound, Virginia. Roughly 60 miles of the approximately 110-mile four-lane will travel through Raleigh, Wyoming and McDowell counties, providing much-needed access to the communities of Sophia, Pineville, Welch and Bradshaw. A 14-mile stretch of the Coalfields Expressway from Sophia to Mullens is currently open to traffic. Construction is underway on the 5.12-mile section from Welch to WV 16. Projects on the September 9 bid letting include: Coalfields Expressway to Twin Falls. (Wyoming County)Fairmont Gateway ADA ramps. (Marion County)District 7 guardrails and terminal upgrades. (Districtwide)William C. Brown Bridge rehabilitation. (Raleigh County)US Army SFC Anthony Barton Memorial Bridge replacement. (McDowell County)Brushy Fork Arch Bridge renovation. (Upshur County)Camden on Gauley Arch Bridge renovation. (Webster County)Richwood sidewalks. (Nicholas County)WV 74 slip repair, Auburn to Berea. (Ritchie County)Lynn Camp Road slip repair. (Ritchie County)Mount Carmel Road slip repair. (Wood County)University Avenue ADA ramps. (Monongalia County)Interstate 470 lighting, Wheeling. (Ohio County)District 8 guardrails. (Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, and Tucker counties)Interstate 70 paving, Middle Creek Bridge to Pennsylvania state line. (Ohio County)US 11 Business Park Drive intersection paving. (Berkeley County)US 19 paving, Flatwoods to Weston Road. (Braxton County)Nichols Overhead Bridge repair, clean, and paint. (Berkeley County)Knob Hill Overpass Bridge rehabilitation. (Raleigh County)Hinton sidewalks, Pleasant Street. (Summers County)Dupont Road slip repair. (Wood County)Eleanor Park sidewalk extension. (Putnam County)Pond Creek Girder Bridge rehabilitation. (Jackson, Wood counties)Borror Store Bridge replacement. (Mineral County)WV 5 paving, Glenville to Stouts Mills Road. (Gilmer County)US 19 signs. (Fayette, Raleigh counties)Wave Pool bridge rehabilitation, Hurricane. (Putman County)Eugene A. Carter Bridge emergency repairs, protective membrane, and asphalt overlay. (Kanawha County) Several factors are considered before awarding a bid, including whether a bid falls above or below the WVDOH Engineer's Estimate and by what percentage. In cases where a bid is above the Engineer's Estimate, WVDOH must consider the project need, repercussions of not awarding the project, additional funding sources, and whether sufficient reasons exist for the differences in estimates. Most projects are reviewed, analyzed, and awarded within a week of the bid letting, but the process can take longer. When the Division of Highways has a project that is determined to be best constructed by a contractor, it is processed through the bid letting system. A letting is a scheduled opportunity for contractors to review and bid on several construction projects at one time. Lettings are held either once or twice per month and conducted through the Bid Express System online at https://www.bidx.com and handled through the Contract Administration Division. Contractors need to subscribe to Bid Express before bids can be accepted on any project.​​