Washington Pike paving to be completed with $650,000 announced by Morrisey
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WELLSBURG - The efforts to pave Washington Pike will soon reach their conclusion.
Among many announcements made during his visit, this week, to the Northern Panhandle, Gov. Patrick Morrisey revealed the allocation of $650,000 to complete the paving of West Virginia Route 27, also known as Washington Pike.
The announcement was made during Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Brooke County Commission.
"I want people to know that West Virginia’s infrastructure is going to get better and better," the governor said. "It’s an exciting time to be a West Virginian. We’re fueling our comeback story, and the Northern Panhandle, including Brooke County, will play a big role."
According to Morrisey, the paving will include 2.6 miles, from the Pennsylvania state line to an area near the intersection with West Virginia Route 88.
The project will include a 1.5-inch overlay and shoulder stone.
"We like to finish things," Morrisey said, referring to previous, phased paving work on the stretch of road. "This is an opportunity to finish the job."
He noted, while the funding has been set aside from the state’s General Road Funds and other funds set aside by the Legislature, a specific timeline for the paving has yet to be designated and no contract has been awarded.
Brooke Commission President Tom Diserio expressed his appreciation to Morrisey and the local legislators involved in the effort, saying work on Washington Pike, and other area roads, have been needed for a long time.
"That’s been neglected in years past," Diserio said.
He said he has noticed a change in recent years, with more effort to invest in infrastructure projects, including several paving or resurfacing efforts in Hancock, Brooke, and Ohio counties, which, he said, will benefit all area residents.
"Projects up this way help us all in the Northern Panhandle," Diserio said.
Most recently, approximately 3.5 miles of the road, beginning with its intersection with West Virginia Route 2, was paved, through the efforts of Del. Jimmy Willis, R-Brooke. That project followed paving being scheduled for Washington Pike over a period of five years, with little to no work actually being performed.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)