 In 1976, contracts totaling well over $200 million were awarded, and construction began.The first section to be modernized was the section from milepost 10.60 (just north of exit 9, US 460) in Mercer County to milepost 35.52 (south of exit 40, I-64) in Raleigh County, completed in 1979.The following year, a segment from milepost 46.70 to milepost 47.95 (exit 48, To US 19) was completed just north of Beckley.