The long-planned Midway Overpass Project in Bluefield is moving forward.

The West Virginia Division of Highways has selected an engineer for the $13.4 million project, which will allow for the start of design and engineering work. The project seeks to replace the archaic and flood-prone Midway Tunnel with a new overpass bridge and pedestrian and bicycle walkway above the tunnel.

That will also put Old Bramwell Road traffic above the existing railroad traffic.

“That is still the initial plan,” Bluefield City Manager Cecil Marson said. “Of course we are in the extremely early phase of the engineering, but initial discussions is going in that direction. It would be overtop the railroad as well.”

The project engineer, TRC Engineering, was recently selected by the West Virginia Department of Highways, according to Marson.

The city and the DOH applied for $13.4 million in federal dollars for the project, which was awarded in 2023 by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. The state also is expected to allocate another $3 million toward the project.

“It’s unique, and it is a very complicated project,” Marson said. “But we’re super excited about it. It will help you get better access to both sides of the border and open it up to everybody. And there will also be pedestrian traffic that will be able to get through there as well. So we’re going to take care of that. And there will be some utility work out there as well.”

The project construction could occur simultaneously with the unrelated Safe Streets for All project, which is a $31 million federal-and-state initiative to improve roadways, sidewalks and lighting along various roadway corridors in the city. That project also involves the construction of several roundabouts.

“Different than the SS4A (Safe Streets for All project), the Midway Overpass Project is a DOH-led project,” Marson said. “Whereas the SS4A is a city of Bluefield-led project, though both are worked hand-in-glove. You know we work so close with DOH there is no difference.”

Planning meetings have already been held for the Midway Overpass Project.

However, residents shouldn’t expect to see an immediate start of construction on the overpass, as the engineering and design work is only in the very early phases. A National Environmental Protection Act review must also be completed and will take time to do so.

“So that project probably won’t kick off until late 2027 or early 2028,” Marson said of the construction phase.

In her original announcement, Capito said the project will involve the construction of an overpass bridge and will replace an existing one-lane, signal-controlled railroad underpass (Old Bramwell Road/County Route 11/Midway Tunnel) with an overpass that includes separated pedestrian and bicycle accommodations.

The Midway Tunnel connects the city with the Midway-Old Bramwell Road section of Bluefield. It is also utilized by residents of neighboring Virginia, as the state line is located not far from the tunnel.

The old tunnel is prone to flooding, and only one vehicle can enter the structure at a time.

Once the overpass project is finished, the tunnel will be eliminated.