Officials push for widening of Route 2

WELLSBURG -- Local officials may soon be seeking the public's help in pushing for the widening of state Route 2 in Brooke County, which is seen both as a solution to recurring rock slides and a boost to economic development.

Several local officials accepted an invitation from the Brooke County Commission to discuss the matter Thursday at the Brooke County Courthouse.

County Commissioner Tim Ennis, who has proposed expanding the highway to four lanes between Wellsburg and Short Creek, said he also invited state officials but they were unable to attend.

Ennis said his proposal was spurred by the high number of rock slides -- by his count, more than 30 -- that have occurred along the highway, often causing it to be closed.

He noted in March, slides at the south ends of Follansbee and Wellsburg resulted in the highway being closed for hours and Brooke County Schools being closed for a day.

He added when the highway is closed, school buses and large trucks are forced to take secondary roads that aren't always wide enough for two ordinary sized cars.

"If the most traveled roadway in Charleston had 30 rock slides in 10 years, there's no doubt in my mind any expense would be taken to correct it," said Ennis.

He said too often, state highway crews have responded by clearing fallen debris and placing jersey barriers along the hillsides.

Ennis told Tony Clark, West Virginia Division of Highways district engineer, who was in attendance, he knows the district office doesn't control future projects and the commission has appreciated its cooperation in recent years.

Clark told the commissioners and others they should approach the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission about adding the highway's expansion to its transportation improvement plan.

The move is needed for federal funding to be awarded to a project.

He added the commission should make their wishes clear to state legislators and other officials in Charleston.

Ennis conceded it would be more difficult to widen the highway in some areas, such as between Wellsburg and Follansbee, but suggested there's adequate space to expand it between Short Creek and Beech Bottom.

Marvin Six, executive director of the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle said Route 2 is a major transportation artery, with about 30 trucks traveling daily to and from the Beech Bottom Industrial Park, which the BDC owns.

Six said about 110 are employed currently at the industrial park, and there's pending development that could bring another 110 jobs.

Wellsburg City Manager Steve Maguschak predicted completion of the new Ohio River Bridge just south of Wellsburg will bring more trucks involved in natural gas drilling operations.

BDC Assistant Director Jacob Keeney, said, "The development's coming. It's a matter of a couple of years, not 10. As soon as that new bridge is open, they're coming right to us."

State officials currently plan only to add turn lanes to the two-lane section of Route 2 near the span.

State Del. Phil Diserio, D-Brooke, told the commissioners he's written to Gov. Jim Justice, urging the highway be widened in that area.

Duane Heck represents the county on the West Virginia Route 2 and Interstate 68 Authority, a volunteer board formed by the state legislature to prioritize areas of the two highways for expansion.

He said there is just one mile between the bridge and Wellsburg's south end and just a few between the span and the Ohio County border.

Six, who served previously on the board, said members once named the area raised by Ennis as its fourth top priority.

Bob Miller, the group's current executive director, said the highway between Follansbee and Wellsburg and south of Wellsburg, as well as two areas in Paden City and Sistersville, remain targets in large part because of rock slides that occur there.

He added officials at the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport, which straddles the Brooke-Ohio county border, have expressed interest in further developing the facility.

Diserio said he's concerned future slides will seriously harm passing drivers.

"To me, it's a safety factor. I get the economic development factor, too," he said.

Wellsburg Mayor Dan Dudley said, "We've dodged all kinds of bullets with school buses (that pass through slide areas). I couldn't have that on my conscience."

Beech Bottom Councilman Don Hubbard added residents of the village become isolated when a slide occurs and have no grocery store in close proximity.

Windsor Heights Mayor Bill Liposchak suggested local officials should elicit public support.

"The only time Charleston listens is when the people really complain… You're going to have to get the public more involved," he said.

Ron Staffileno, transportation director for Brooke County Schools, noted it will take some time for highway officials to do the necessary planning, including required environmental studies for the targeted area.

County Commissioner Stacey Wise said they must develop a plan to present to the public and that involves identifying a starting point.

Diserio suggested the commissioners and others meet with the Ohio County Commission and the Regional Economic Development Partnership in that county while he arranges a meeting with state Secretary of Economic Development Mitch Carmichael.