The West Virginia Department of Highways (WVDOH) began work on a temporary fix to the Harvey Street underpass in Williamson Thursday. The temporary fix would open the underpass as soon as today to small traffic.

Commercial trucks, coal trucks, and heavy vehicles will need to continue using the truck route. Heavy trucks will be ticketed if seen using the Harvey Street underpass after its reopening.

Councilman York Smith, Jr. said a permanent fix for the grates will be put in place in approximately three weeks after the WVDOH obtains the materials for the grates. Currently, the underpass has 36 two-foot wide grates with many cracks in various sections. The grates cover a 22-foot drop to the sewer below.

According to Smith, the new grates will be two solid pieces, each about 12 feet in length for a more secure covering.

The underpass was closed for emergency safety issues June 25 during the Williamson City Council's meeting because of the cracks. A truck route had previously been put into place but many motorists had not adhered to it. The council made the motion for the emergency closure to prevent further damage.

The city has plans to contact Norfolk and Southern Railroad about installing a beam to lower the clearing and to prevent large trucks from using the underpass.

Trucks that need to access U.S. 52 South from U.S. 119 need to access it from the cut-through traffic light on U.S. 119 and travel down Ben Street and Prichard Street to reach Fourth Avenue and U.S. 52. Trucks needing to access U.S. 119 North from U.S. 52 North will need to use the truck route along Pritchard Street.