The site of a new roundabout that will be constructed at W.Va. 25 in Institute, at the current location of the on-ramps for the Institute exit of Interstate 64. The new traffic circle will extend just south of the current roadway shown in this aerial photo on Monday, July 13, 2026. The bridge over W.Va. 25 (at far right) will be permanently removed as part of the project.
These are architect's renderings of a roundabout for the intersection of W.Va. 25 and the Interstate 64 on- and off-ramps at the Institute exit. The project should be completed by September 2027.
The site of a new roundabout that will be constructed at W.Va. 25 in Institute, at the current location of the on-ramps for the Institute exit of Interstate 64. The new traffic circle will extend just south of the current roadway shown in this aerial photo on Monday, July 13, 2026. The bridge over W.Va. 25 (at far right) will be permanently removed as part of the project.
Kanawha County should see its second roundabout open about a year from now. Until then, expect some construction delays and temporary road and interstate exit closures.
On July 2, the West Virginia Department of Transportation announced the project, which will create a roundabout at W.Va. 25 in Institute at the Institute exit of Interstate 64. The roundabout will be located on W.Va. 25 and extend just south of the current roadway. The on- and off-ramps for the exit will branch out from the north side of the traffic circle.
West Virginia Paving in Dunbar was awarded the $5.4 million contract. Evan Bailey, an estimator for the company, said the project could begin in mid- to late August.
The DOT expects "traffic will be maintained throughout construction on the existing bridge, and existing roadways," Dirar Ahmed, a state highway engineer, said Monday in an email.
The bridge Ahmed mentioned refers to the bridge from eastbound W.Va. 25 to both on-ramps to I-64.
These are architect's renderings of a roundabout for the intersection of W.Va. 25 and the Interstate 64 on- and off-ramps at the Institute exit. The project should be completed by September 2027.
WVDOT | Courtesy photo
"Since most of the proposed roundabout will be constructed south of the existing roadway and outside the current travel lanes, motorists will be able to continue using the existing ramps and bridge during much of the construction work duration."
But Bailey said there will be a period where the Institute exit will be closed.
"There will be some phases of the on- and off-ramp work that will be shut down," Bailey said Monday. "The exits could be shut down "for a month or two," he said, but could be expedited to a few weeks if W.Va. 25 can be shut down for "a week or two of nighttime closures."
Bailey doesn't know yet when closures might occur.
Why a roundabout for this intersection?
The Institute on- and off-ramp area is receiving this roundabout for safety reasons and also because of a low-clearance bridge from the eastbound lanes of W.Va. 25 to the on-ramps to I-64. That bridge will be permanently removed as part of the project.
"A roundabout was selected because it improves safety, reduces the potential for severe angle crashes, and keeps traffic moving efficiently without the need for a traffic signal," Ahmed said in the email. "The project also eliminates the need to replace the existing bridge, which eliminates future bridge maintenance needs that saves taxpaers (sic) dollars. As imprant (sic), this eliminates the current existing bridge's low vertical clearance for certain oversize vehicles to drive under the existing bridge."
"The footprint of that project is within the right-of-way of what DOH already owns," said Division of Highways spokesperson Rusty Marks, referring to the property where the construction will occur. "So we don't have to have public meetings."
Marks said part of the reason for no public comment was that no homes or businesses will be disturbed by the project.
"For the Institute Roundabout, the WVDOH approved a Categorical Exclusion (CE)," Marks said in a follow-up email. "While a CE does not legally mandate public involvement, the agency may choose to host meetings if deemed necessary. Because this specific project had no significant social, economic, or environmental impacts, the WVDOH held no public meetings."
Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt said in a text on Monday, "We first learned about it in the release that was sent out and we are eager to find out more on how it is exactly going to work."
Officials at West Virginia State University — which is located in Institute — did not answer questions about when they first learned about the project or how road closures and construction might affect the university. In a statement Monday, they said only: "The University has confidence in the Department of Transportation and its contractor to maintain communication and complete the project with the least possible disruption to the University and its students."
Requests for comment from the Kanawha County Commission and the City of Dunbar were not returned.
Other local roundabout projects
A plan for a roundabout on Teays Valley Road in Putnam County was shelved in October last year after a lack of public support.
Some local leaders had requested alternatives to roundabouts, but none of those alternatives addressed the safety and congestion issues that led to the original project request, according to the DOH.
"[The roundabout plan] was the plan to ease congestion," said Brent Walker, the DOT's public relations director. "It just wasn't met with the community support."
Kanawha County's first roundabout opened in July 2025 along the Kanawha Turnpike under the new bridge taking Jefferson Road over the CSX Transportation tracks and reconnecting to Jefferson Road in South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
That project has been deemed a success by the DOT.
"The Jefferson Road project, including the roundabout, has been a success for safety, congestion and all traffic-related challenges," Ahmed said in the email.
Christopher Millette is the editor of the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Gazette-Mail. He can be reached at 304-348-5124 or cmillette@hdmediallc.com. Follow him on X: @cmillette.
