WVDOH to open part of Berkeley Springs Bypass this week

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. (WBOY) — The first part of a major bypass in the Eastern Panhandle is set to open this week, and officials hope it’ll improve safety and mobility.

In a release put out Tuesday, the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) said it plans to open up the southern section of the four-lane US 522 Berkeley Springs Bypass in Morgan County by noon on Wednesday.

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The 3.4-mile section runs from the area of Winchester Grade Road to just north of Martinsburg Road and comes amid concerns by local and state officials regarding heavy truck traffic that uses the main part of US 522, which runs directly through the town. The WVDOH said that of the 13,400 vehicles that use US 522 every day, 30% are trucks.

“The opening of the southern corridor of the Berkeley Springs Bypass marks a significant milestone in improving safety and mobility for residents and travelers in the region,” said Transportation Secretary Stephen T. Rumbaugh, P.E. “This new segment provides a more efficient route for traffic.  When completed, the bypass will provide for a more efficient route for commercial trucks, helping to ease longstanding congestion in the town of Berkeley Springs.”

The southern section was constructed by the Trumbull Corporation, which was awarded a $59.8 million contract in October 2020 to build it. The northern section will connect the bypass back to US 522 north of the town and will be built by A.L.L. Construction, Inc., which was awarded its contract in December 2022. Once completed, the bypass will also feature a connector road to War Memorial Hospital.

“We are proud to deliver this critical infrastructure project as part of our ongoing commitment to modernizing West Virginia’s roadways, promoting safety, and supporting our communities,” Rumbaugh said.

The northern section of the bypass is expected to open to traffic in 2027.