A busy weekend in Morgantown with the home opener between WVU and Penn State has law enforcement ready to execute months of planning.
University Police Chief Sherry St. Clair praised the universal response, including all area law enforcement agencies for the multiple events and activities set to happen today and tomorrow. She added that officers work hard to get people in and out but she asks motorists to watch for signs, message boards and most of all obey the commands from officers at intersections.
“With all the agencies coming together it really works good now,” St. Clair said. “We just ask people to look for the signs coming into town, pay attention to the officers working the intersections and usually we can get you in smoothly and get you out.”
St. Clair is asking fans to enter the stadium as soon as possible today to attempt to limit congestion in the outer concourse and gate areas.
“We know noon games have more of a backup at the gates — people want to stay at their tailgate as long as possible,” St. Clair said. “But we’re really suggesting that people get into the game as soon as possible.”
The gates will have new technology as part of the Campus Self Defense Act — metal detectors. The devices are common across the nation and local school systems and are not expected to cause delays.
“This is the first game we’ll be using the weapons detection devices at the gate,” St. Clair said. “There should be no hold up, we ask people to just walk straight through them and don’t take anything out of your pockets.” After the game, St. Clair urges fans to be responsible and think twice.
“I know they want to go celebrate and we will direct traffic out as fast as possible and we’ll have extra officers staying around just to make sure everything goes OK,” St. Clair said. “Please be respectful to the other fans and please be respectful when you start celebrating.”
Morgantown Police Chief Eric Powell said his officers will be ready to assist. “We’re out there to help people, to guide people and to give people assistance when they need it,” said Powell. “If asked, we’ll be more than happy to accommodate whatever is asked of us within reach.”
To prepare locally, Powell reported that perimeter plans have been discussed with MPD officials over the past few weeks. Powell added that residents should expect Morgantown police officers to be out in full force throughout the weekend.
“We’ve upped our manpower by restricting leave and other things, and we’ve been planning for the last couple of weeks actually,” Powell said.
Traffic around the Mileground was expected to be heavy starting Friday afternoon, with influxes expected on Don Knotts Boulevard, Van Voorhis Road, and Chestnut Ridge Road.
MPD will be working in tandem with WVU Police today to help with crowds around Milan Puskar Stadium. This will include assistance in foot patrols around the stadium before and after kickoff at noon, as well as helping pedestrians work through traffic that’s expected to be gridlocked for significant periods this afternoon.
Traffic patterns around the stadium will limit entry and exit points to Chestnut Ridge Road, with the Stewartstown Road and Research Park Road intersections expected to be closed off before and after the game. The West Virginia State Police will direct traffic today.
“To avoid being stuck in traffic, try to plan your day ahead of time before venturing out and driving the roads,” said Powell. “Because, obviously, it’s going to be extremely congested,” he said.
