The new bridge was built slightly downstream, now south of the mouth of the Kanawha River.

The old path on the northern side of the Kanawha was numbered as West Virginia Route 62.

With its new designation at US 35, this highway became the primary travel route between Charleston and Point Pleasant, and continuing in to Ohio, Columbus and Dayton.

The state began planning to construct a replacement 4-lane route, but insufficient funding continually prevented the project.

As the state planned to develop land near Buffalo, the old 2-lane US 35 and its slow access to Interstate 64 became a major issue, further increasing the need for a new highway.