|
|
|
By Jean Braithwaite
Tribune Correspondent
BAYARD - Guardrails along the road in the area along Mill Creek, near Romney, where a recent near-tragic auto accident took place, were part of the discussion of the U.S Route 50 Association meeting held Wednesday in Bayard.
Mineral County Commissioner Wayne Spiggle inquired of Lee Thorne, acting district engineer of the Department of Highways, about the possibility of the placement of the protective railings.
Thorne stated that funding is not allotted to counties for guardrails, but rather is issued through districts.
Not promising the installation of guardrails on the Route 50 location, Thorne did say, “I will get my design engineers to review this area to see if the study warrants attention of putting in guardrails.”
Another item of business brought to the table for Thorne was approached by Gary Howell on behalf of Hampshire County residents on the subject of installation of center road reflectors.
Howell cited that the residents wanted the reflectors placed along Route 50 towards Winchester for the safety of the local workers that travel to Virginia for employment.
Thorne stated that typi-
cally the reflectors are installed in fog-prone roads, and “there would be great additional expense for the reflectors to go in all areas.”
He also offered information concerning the deterioration of the reflectors due to heavy snow on the roads and heavy truck traffic “leading to cracked lenses.”
Thorne added that there was a possibility to look into the issue.
Reporting on the feasibility of reducing the speed limit at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 and West Virginia Route 24 in Aurora was Bill Wood of the WVDOH.
Wood mentioned the first step would be a study by traffic engineers for the evaluation of the adjustment of speed which could not be undertaken until the spring or summer months
“Hopefully by the July meeting of the Route 50 Association, I will have something to report,” he said, adding that as part of the procedure a public meeting may have to be held with input from Preston County citizens.
Although a focus on the state’s Byways Program is scheduled for an item on the agenda for the next meeting, state coordinator for the program Karen Ebert-Allen, offered information on the subject.
She stated the Byways Program was a “grass roots effort” to determine the designation of state roads for their “intrinsic qualities.”
Funded through federal money that comes into West Virginia, Ebert-Evans stated the selections are based on “scenic, cultural, natural beauty, historical, or recreational resources.”
Spiggle added that Gov. Joe Manchin recently spoke of his vision for the state and included in that was improvement for Route 50.
“Perhaps we could apply the Byways Program to Route 50,” Spiggle said.
The next meeting of the U.S. Route 50 Association is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, in Garrett County. The place for the meeting will be announced at a later date.
By Jean Braithwaite
Tribune Correspondent
BAYARD - Guardrails along the road in the area along Mill Creek, near Romney, where a recent near-tragic auto accident took place, were part of the discussion of the U.S Route 50 Association meeting held Wednesday in Bayard.
Mineral County Commissioner Wayne Spiggle inquired of Lee Thorne, acting district engineer of the Department of Highways, about the possibility of the placement of the protective railings.
Thorne stated that funding is not allotted to counties for guardrails, but rather is issued through districts.
Not promising the installation of guardrails on the Route 50 location, Thorne did say, “I will get my design engineers to review this area to see if the study warrants attention of putting in guardrails.”
Another item of business brought to the table for Thorne was approached by Gary Howell on behalf of Hampshire County residents on the subject of installation of center road reflectors.
Howell cited that the residents wanted the reflectors placed along Route 50 towards Winchester for the safety of the local workers that travel to Virginia for employment.
Thorne stated that typi-
cally the reflectors are installed in fog-prone roads, and “there would be great additional expense for the reflectors to go in all areas.”
He also offered information concerning the deterioration of the reflectors due to heavy snow on the roads and heavy truck traffic “leading to cracked lenses.”
Thorne added that there was a possibility to look into the issue.
Reporting on the feasibility of reducing the speed limit at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 and West Virginia Route 24 in Aurora was Bill Wood of the WVDOH.
Wood mentioned the first step would be a study by traffic engineers for the evaluation of the adjustment of speed which could not be undertaken until the spring or summer months
“Hopefully by the July meeting of the Route 50 Association, I will have something to report,” he said, adding that as part of the procedure a public meeting may have to be held with input from Preston County citizens.
Although a focus on the state’s Byways Program is scheduled for an item on the agenda for the next meeting, state coordinator for the program Karen Ebert-Allen, offered information on the subject.
She stated the Byways Program was a “grass roots effort” to determine the designation of state roads for their “intrinsic qualities.”
Funded through federal money that comes into West Virginia, Ebert-Evans stated the selections are based on “scenic, cultural, natural beauty, historical, or recreational resources.”
Spiggle added that Gov. Joe Manchin recently spoke of his vision for the state and included in that was improvement for Route 50.
“Perhaps we could apply the Byways Program to Route 50,” Spiggle said.
The next meeting of the U.S. Route 50 Association is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, in Garrett County. The place for the meeting will be announced at a later date.
