High-visibility items slated for general obligation bonds
When it comes to Road to Prosperity projects in Monongalia County, West Virginia Division of Highways representative Brian Carr said “I think we’ve shown you the love.”
During Thursday’s meeting of the Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board, Carr said not all of the work taken up as part of the RTP program are the high-visibility projects slated for funding under general obligation bonds.
“I know the general obligation bond projects, the bigger projects, are the ones that catch people’s eye — the ones that are game changing or life changing for capacity, safety, what have you. But it certainly doesn’t diminish the impact of some of the slide jobs and resurfacing jobs that have gotten included over the course of time,” Carr said. “As you know, many of those jobs were not on the original list.”
He noted that, thus far, 21 projects have been completed in the county, totaling about $31.3 million.
An additional 18 projects totaling approximately $143 million are in the works. These include the larger projects made public when the constitutional amendment allowing the RTP program was passed by voters in 2017.
Carr provided board members a list of the six major RTP projects and an update on their status.
- Additional I-79 access — The initial $100 million cost of additional interstate access near the Morgantown Industrial Park — has been doubled.
Given the complexity of the project, it was removed from RTP funding due to a fear work wouldn’t begin in time to qualify.
Instead, the project’s feasibility study was funded through the RTP and it is currently programmed to be constructed, in whole or in part, in 2025 depending on available federal funding.
- Mileground Road to Airport Boulevard ($9.9 million) — Programmed in 2012, a conditional notice to proceed for this project, has been issued allowing utility relocation to begin.
However, as it was this time last year, the project remains halted by property acquisitions sitting in Monongalia County Circuit Court.
County Commissioner and MPO member Tom Bloom said the county commission has approached the court about possibly expediting those issues.
- Van Voorhis Road to West Run Road — Actually two projects, a road widening ($15 million) and a sidewalk addition ($11 million), the project was programmed in 2015, then again in 2019, and it is anticipated it will be let for construction in 2021.
A series of virtual public meetings on the improvements drew some 300 participants on Aug. 10 and the project remains open for public comment.
- Green Bag Road intersection improvements ($16 million) — There has been an initial public presentation on the design of this project and DOH will present potential alternative designs to the public at a virtual public meeting this fall.
Once the final design for this project is selected, it is anticipated that the construction will begin in 2023.
- West Run widening and Point Marion intersection improvements ($13 million) — First programmed in 2018, the project’s roots date back some two decades.
The design work has been completed and right of way has been authorized. It is anticipated that the project will be let for construction next summer.
- Beechurst Avenue, 8th Street to Fayette Street ($8 million) — The project was first programmed in 2015.
It has been designed and DOH is waiting on direction from local partners on an issue prior to letting the project out for construction next year.
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