WHEELING, W.Va. -- The eastbound lanes of the Wheeling Tunnels are now open after being shut down around 11:15 Thursday morning to allow crews to repair a broken grate in the tunnel.

This after the Department of Highway officials closed off access from Interstate 70 to eastbound Wheeling Tunnel.

According to Bob Whipp, the district engineer for West Virginia Dept. of Highways, he said a DOH employee noticed the grate partially cracked.

They had to lay down a layer of asphalt as a temporary solution until they decide what they are going to do in the future.

For drivers, they hope this is the last problem the tunnel has because it's a hassle for them to commute.

"Inconvenience having to go around it, streets are two lanes and one way streets in downtown, it can be a big inconvenience," said JoAnne Fonner.

Whipp said part of the grate that failed was because of hundreds of pounds of traffic that come through tunnel each day.

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