Recent bouts of traffic congestion on Interstate 70 near The Highlands can be attributed to an ongoing bridge repair project expected to be completed in October, said Dan Sikora, West Virginia Division of Highways District 6 construction engineer.

Sikora said the approach areas to five bridges in the eastbound and westbound lanes between the Elm Grove/Triadelphia exit from I-70 and the Pennsylvania state line are being repaired, using $2.6 million in federal stimulus money.

Sikora said construction crews from Carl Kelly Paving in Williamstown, W.Va. are working on one side of the interstate at a time, and maintaining a single lane of traffic on the bridges.

On Monday, traffic problems worsened as a four-vehicle accident tied up interstate traffic in both directions and bringing it to a standstill in the westbound lanes as emergency crews cleaned debris from the highway.

For a time, motorists were backed up from just west of the Cabela Drive exit to east of the Dallas Pike exit.

Sikora said normal traffic congestion in the areas where repairs are taking place is heaviest from 3-5 p.m.

He advises motorists to take great care when traveling through the construction zone.

"Use caution," he said. "Follow the signs. Merge early ... don't wait."

Sikora noted many motorists have been using U.S. 40 to detour around traffic during periods of congestion.

He said repairs were necessary because the pavement on the bridge approach areas has deteriorated, sinking and causing a bump as vehicles drive onto the spans.

"It should make for a smoother transition between the road and the bridges," Sikora said.

Sikora said another stimulus project also is taking place on W.Va. 2 from just south of Wheeling to the South end of McMechen. Also scheduled to be completed in October by Carl Kelly Paving, those improvements involve joint repair, median replacement and total repavement of that stretch of highway.