Truckers continue to ignore I-77 detour in West Virginia; more than 1,000 citations issued

Despite plenty of warning, many truckers continue to ignore the detour on Interstate 77 in West Virginia near the Virginia border. Nearly 200 citations were issued in less than a week after the May 17 opening of the detour route. Two weeks later, more than 1,000 total citations have been issued.

Construction crews started a rehabilitation project on I-77 from Exit 1 to Exit 9, an approximate 8-mile stretch on May 17. According to Terra Goins, a construction engineer for the Department of Highway’s District 10, crews will be busting out concrete to make way for new asphalt.

To alleviate traffic problems, trucks and buses have been rerouted to Route 460, where they reenter the interstate at the Exit 9 intersection in Princeton. Passenger vehicles remain on I-77 through the construction.

On May 23, Land Line reported that law enforcement had already issued nearly 200 citations in less than a week. Apparently, many truckers are still not getting the message. As of Monday, June 4, more than 1,000 tickets have been issued.

According to 1st Sgt. J. Tomblyn of the West Virginia State Police Princeton Detachment, truckers getting pulled over are claiming ignorance.

“The majority of the responses is that they didn’t see (the signs),” Tomblyn told Land Line.

When Land Line last spoke with Tomblyn two weeks ago, there were at least four signs on the West Virginia side warning travelers on Interstate 77 of the upcoming detour. A sign over the interstate sign reads “All Trucks Detour” with an arrow, according to Tomblyn. Flashing, portable digital signs also read “All Trucks Must Exit.”

“I think they’re pretty easy to see,” Tomblyn said. “I don’t know how you miss one of the flashing signs.”

Since then, at least two more signs have been posted on the Virginia side as some truckers have decided to create their own detour that is not designated as such. A sign at a Virginia exit approximately 6 miles before state line is marked “No thru trucks” before the construction zone. About 2 more miles north, signage begins for the mandatory truck detour. Once motorists exit the tunnel, three more signs are posted.

Tomblyn estimates that approximately 20 minutes are added to a trip with the detour when the traffic is not too congested. That time is likely to increase during heavier traffic times, such as morning and evening commutes.

Construction is expected to occur in three phases. Phase one includes construction on northbound lanes and is scheduled to run from mid-May to July 4. Phase two will include southbound lane reconstruction, and phase three will move construction to the tunnel. It is not clear at this point if the split traffic reroutes will be used for phases two and three.

“Based on our traffic modeling, this will allow the truck traffic to proceed on 460 instead of trying to go up and down the grades on I-77, where it may be a slow go,” Goins said. “We’re just trying to keep the traffic moving.”

Tomblyn emphasized that this is a mandatory detour for all tractor-trailers and commercial vehicles. If law enforcement sees any trucks on I-77 in the designated construction zone, truckers will be cited.

“This job is not going to be without its frustrations,” Goins said. “However, if people will bear with us and be safe in the work zone and slow down, we’re hoping to have a better roadway at the end of this project.”