The West Virginia Division of Highways is working to speed up traffic flow along Interstate 70 near The Highlands - and motorists are being urged to do their part.

WVDOH Area Engineer Gus Suwaid said the projected completion date for all work is Oct. 30, but efforts are being made to move things along faster.

"The contractor is working 12 hours a day, seven days week," Suwaid said. "We will be meeting with them to see if we can increase the size of work crews."

He said another effort to hasten the project is a change in material specifications. "We are using a different, quicker-drying concrete material on the bridge approaches," he said. "The new material cures within 48 to 72 hours, as opposed to seven days with the previous material." As part of the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - intended to boost the national economy - $3.6 million is being spent to replace approach slabs at bridges along I-70 east of Wheeling in Ohio County. The slabs are on each end of eight bridges at four locations - both eastbound and westbound.

Targeted areas include a bridge between exits 4 and 5 near the McDonald's Restaurant in Elm Grove, the bridge spanning Middle Creek near the Middle Creek Garage in Triadelphia amd a bridge at Dallas Pike exit 11 over Stoolfire Road. Suwaid said some work should be completed by next week.

"We plan to open the eastbound lanes at the Dallas Pike and Stoolfire Road projects early next week," he said.

Suward called for the traveling public to help alleviate traffic congestion in the work zone.

"Some tie-ups are due to bad drivers' habits," he said. "Many are trying to merge at the last moment. We encourage motorists to merge earlier ... to make traffic flow a little faster." WVDOH construction engineer Danny Sikora said last week that 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 there have become necessary as a result.

Another project scheduled to be completed in October is a $5.7 million repaving of 5.44 miles of W.Va. 2 from McMechen in Marshall County to 1 mile north of the Ohio County line, just short of the Interstate 470 interchange. Work includes road resurfacing and replacement of the median barrier wall separating the four-lane roadway.