Plans for a southern bypass of Wheeling were first published in 1955 in Bureau of Public Roads document titled "General Location of National System of Interstate Highways Including All Additional Routes at Urban Areas". An environmental impact statement was filed in 1972 by West Virginia, detailing the I-470 interchange with US 250/WV 2 along the eastern banks of the Ohio River. Tunnels used by the nearby LaBelle Nail Plant, LaBelle being the original French word for the Ohio River, were unearthed during construction of this interchange. A segment in West Virginia was bid out at just over $16.5 million (equivalent to $ in ) in 1976.