The Island Creek widening project that recently received federal funding, will start at the Super 8 motel in Ellis Addition and will widen 1/8 mile of the stream.

As part of that project, though, Super 8 will be bought and razed. Other businesses in Ellis Addition will not be affected.

The project recently was approved for $22 million in federal funding appropriated by U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd. The widening will make the streambed 80 feet wide for 1/8 mile starting at the Super 8 motel and going to the property where the K-City department store used to sit in Ellis Addition. The project should help prevent flooding throughout the Island Creek basin, which has been hit with several major floods in the last few years.

Logan County Commission President Art Kirkendoll said property acquisitions have already begun on the widening project.

“The only major removal of a building would be of Super 8 motel,” Kirkendoll said. “That is where the major part of the project will be.”

Kirkendoll said he believes it will take up to $3.5 million to buy out Super 8.

But, Kirkendoll said Super 8 may move its motel to another location.

“There’s talk that they may move Super 8 to the Fountain Place Mall,” he said.

“They like it here and they make money here, so we’re encouraging them to stay.”

The flood project, Kirkendoll said, will work like a suction to help keep water flowing during times of flooding. “When the head waters on upper Island Creek come up, it will just suck it down and keep it from overflowing at Monaville and along the Island Creek basin where it traditionally floods,” Kirkendoll said.

There will also be a warning system put into place to warn residents of the rising waters, Kirkendoll said.

Logan County Administrator Roscoe “Rocky” Adkins said this morning that the project should take around two years to complete and is not projected to claim any additional businesses in Ellis Addition.