About the Project

The I-79 Chaplin Hill Gateway Project is a partnership between the Monongalia County Commission, the West Virginia Department of Transportation, local non-profits Mylan Park Foundation and the Mon River Trails Conservancy, and private enterprise, with the shared goal of improving capacity, safety, multi-modal access, and growth opportunities in north central West Virginia.

It has been announced the Monongalia County Commission will receive $54.3 million for the project from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program. Check back for more updates soon.

Project Location

Regional Mobility

Serving over 33,500 vehicles per day, the Exit 155 interchange and Chaplin Hill Road are a gateway for two critical destinations:

Eastwardly, Exit 155 and Chaplin Hill Road serve as the primary transportation connection from I-79 to the City of Morgantown and West Virginia University, and WVU Medicine's flagship hospital complex.

Westwardly, Exit 155 and Chaplin Hill Road serve as the primary transportation connection to western Mon County, an area of concentrated economic growth and community services largely unparalleled in the state.

Project Outcomes

Phase 1 Project Outcomes

Component	Outcome
Reconstruct Exit 155 interchange	Improves Level of Service from F to B. Also 30% fewer crashes are expected based on crash modification factors.
Replace dual I-79 bridges over Chaplin Hill Road	Increases vertical clearance to meet interstate standards, eliminates existing fracture critical pin and hanger design, and eliminates one “poor” and one “fair” rated bridge from WVDOT’s system.
Widen Chaplin Hill Road from I-79 eastward to Monongahela Boulevard as a multi-lane boulevard style corridor with shared use path	Improves capacity of this corridor (the primary transportation connection from I-79 to City of Morgantown and WVU Campuses) to serve existing and future traffic demands of the region. Provides dedicated accessibility to all users, including bicycles and pedestrians, and a direct connection to the regional rails-to trails network.
Construct a flyover for westbound through traffic at the Chaplin Hill Road with Monongahela Boulevard intersection.	Eliminates heavy traffic movement from the intersection and improves Level of Service from F to C during the afternoon peak hour. Provides needed capacity for traffic leaving Morgantown during surge events, such as WVU football games.

Phase 2 Project Outcomes

Component	Outcome
Construct a new roadway to replace existing Chaplin Hill Road from I-79 westward to the Mylan Park area. Roadway is a four-lane boulevard style corridor with shared use path.	Replaces the existing narrow roadway and eliminates a sharp curve which has frequent crashes. Provides capacity to serve existing and future traffic demands. Provides dedicated accessibility to all users, including bicycles and pedestrians.
Upgrade a 3,600 foot section of existing Chaplin Hill Road to the Monongalia County School Transportation Department.	Provides an improved roadway which meets current design standards. Continues dedicated accessibility to all users, including bicycles and pedestrians.