MORGANTOWN — Crews with Pritchard Signal and Light have installed a temporary traffic signal at the intersection of Earl Core Road (W.Va. 7) and Deckers Creek Boulevard.
The light is in preparation for a major overhaul to the intersection in the middle of Sabraton — W.Va. 7 and CR 85 (Green Bag Road) — set to begin on March 16th.
Bernie Cobb, of PSL, said traffic coming into Sabraton on Green Bag Road will have to turn left. While vehicles will still be able to turn right to access the businesses, there will be no through access to W.Va. 7.
“We’re tearing that whole intersection down. That traffic signal is coming down. That’s why we’re putting a light in here, to deal with the extra traffic while we rebuild that intersection,” Cobb said.
County Commissioner Tom Bloom said he planned to reach out to the DOH about placing a sign at the bottom of Mineral Avenue to keep traffic from trying to turn left into the temporary light. He also said he wanted to ask about the possibility of a light where Green Bag Road connects with Deckers Creek Boulevard.
Reworking the failed intersection in the middle of Sabraton has been on the state’s radar since at least 2015.
The realignment of the crossroads includes the closure of the short connector between W.Va. 7 and Sabraton Avenue. It will become a right-in, right-out only as an access for Hardees and Woodburn Shanks.
Residents of the Norwood neighborhood have been critical of the plan, fearing it will force more traffic through the neighborhood and simply push traffic to the connector in front of the Sabraton Baptist Church.
In May, the DOH said the project is expected to cost about $1.65 million.
A message left for DOH Spokesman Brent Walker was not returned in time for this report.
