HEDGESVILLE, W.Va. — A new 15-point improvement project to help alleviate congestion along West Virginia Route 9 was announced by Gov. Jim Justice this week.
The governor was at the Martinsburg Regional DMV Office Tuesday afternoon to lay out the project for the roadway alongside Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, and state Transportation Secretary Jimmy Wriston.
“After months of analyzing this stretch, our department of transportation is ready to implement a strategic 15-point improvement project,” Justice said.
The congestion on WV 9 between Martinsburg and Hedgesville is linked to a few things. There’s been growth in the Eastern Panhandle, particularly in Berkeley County. Sections of Route 9 also include multiple schools, with more planned for the area, that have seen heavy traffic in the beginning and the end of school days. A handful of businesses near the General Motors Access Road have also added to the congestion.
“This project is going to start making life easier for those who drive Route 9,” Gov. Justice said. “We’re facing a real challenge as the county’s population grows. This boom is undeniably something to celebrate, and we will adapt as we grow.
Gov. Justice said Senate President Craig Blair brought this issue to his attention. Blair said something had to be done to free up the reoccurring congested areas.
“Here’s what I’ve learned working with this man: when Gov. Justice pledges to get something done, it gets done,” said Blair. “That’s why I am confident we’ll fix the problems we face on Route 9. It’s about acknowledging the problem, taking steps forward, and getting the job done.”
Secretary Wriston said he and members of the Department of Transportation are ready to tackle this type of project.
“There’s obviously a growing need for the DOT to deal with some of the issues on Route 9,” Wriston said. “Under Governor Justice’s and Senator Blair’s leadership, we have an approach that will help the area, alleviate congestion, and move traffic more efficiently.”
According to the Department of Transportation, sections of Route 9 have an average daily traffic count of 24,300 vehicles. Also, crash rates in the area are close to double the statewide average.
As for the idea of a Rt. 9 Bypass, an idea that has been a point of discussion for years, Secretary Wriston indicated the costs would be prohibitive:
Some points of the improvement project include creating extra turn lanes at the intersection of WV 9 and the General Motors Access Road, intersection of WV 9 and Welltown Road, at Severna Parkway, at Eagle Plaza, and near Tomahawk Intermediate School. There are other improvements proposed at the intersections of WV 9 including at Cumbo Road, Harlan Springs Road, Ridge Road, Schoolhouse Drive and Stribling Road.
Wriston said there’s no clear timetable at the moment for the project but things will start happening “really quickly.”
“We’re probably looking at a couple of construction seasons to get completely done,” he said.
The story was originally written by MetroNews reporter Jarrett Lewis along with coverage from the Panhandle News Network’s Luke Wiggs.
Panhandle News Network reporter Luke Wiggs was at the announcement and brought back clips of some of the statements during the announcement:
Governor Jim Justice talked about traffic issues on Route 9, which he said are related to growth in the area:
Governor Justice said the Department of Transportation is ready with a 15 Point Improvement Project Along Several Sections of Rt 9:
Secretary Wriston said the timeline for the project will be nailed down soon:
Secretary Wriston said federal money could be available for the project:
Senate President Craig Blair of Berkeley County talked about the need for law enforcement to assist in helping direct motorists around construction:
MARTINSBURG, WV — Gov. Jim Justice today announced a 15-point improvement project to alleviate congestion along several sections of West Virginia Route 9.
Growth in the Eastern Panhandle, and Berkeley County in particular, has led to congestion on WV 9 between Martinsburg and Hedgesville. The presence of multiple schools in the area, with more planned, has led to congestion at the beginning and end of the school day. In addition, numerous businesses, particularly near the General Motors Access Road, add to congestion.
Gov. Justice made the announcement alongside Senate President Craig Blair and Transportation Secretary Jimmy Wriston at the Martinsburg Regional DMV Office.
“This project is going to start making life easier for those who drive Route 9,” Gov. Justice said. “We’re facing a real challenge as the county’s population grows. This boom is undeniably something to celebrate, and we will adapt as we grow. President Blair brought this issue to my attention, and I knew we needed to take action. Thankfully, because of Secretary Wriston and the hard-working members of our Department of Transportation, we are ready to roll out this plan to tackle the congestion.”
“Since Governor Justice took office, countless road projects have been completed, making life better across West Virginia,” Senate President Blair said. “Here’s what I’ve learned working with this man: when Gov. Justice pledges to get something done, it gets done. That’s why I am confident we’ll fix the problems we face on Route 9. It’s about acknowledging the problem, taking steps forward, and getting the job done. That’s exactly the approach we’re taking here.”
“There’s obviously a growing need for the DOT to deal with some of the issues on Route 9,” Wriston said. “Under Governor Justice’s and Senator Blair’s leadership, we have an approach that will help the area, alleviate congestion, and move traffic more efficiently.”
Sections of WV 9 have average daily traffic counts of 24,300 vehicles daily. Crash rates in the area are approximately double the statewide average.
Some of the improvements include extra turn lanes at the intersection of WV 9 and the General Motors Access Road, intersection of WV 9 and Welltown Road, at Severna Parkway, at Eagle Plaza, and near Tomahawk Intermediate School.
Other proposed improvements at the intersections of WV 9 include at Stribling Road, Harlan Springs Road, Cumbo Road, Ridge Road, and Schoolhouse Drive.
