MORGANTOWN — Hope springs eternal in the hearts of Monongalia County Commissioners – at least when it comes to the county’s on-again, off-again relationship with the West Virginia Division of Highways brass.
Members of the commission on Wednesday reacted to news that Jimmy Wriston is out at the state’s transportation secretary.
Todd Rumbaugh has been tapped by Governor Patrick Morrisey to fill that role.
“Mr. Rumbaugh is a long time WVDOH employee who has been serving as deputy commissioner of highways for construction,” Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director Bill Austin explained in an email to MPO Policy Board members. “I have had the privilege of working with him in the past and he seems amenable to working with local communities.”
Commissioner Tom Bloom said he believes a change in leadership in Charleston as well as in Clarksburg, where new DOH District 4 Director Earl Gaskins is now in charge, will be positive for the county as 2025 shapes up to be a big year for local road projects.
“I’m excited for a revitalization of communication and a working relationship to accomplish our mutual goals,” Bloom said. “I believe next year will be called the year of road improvements in Monongalia County.”
Bloom points to Green Bag Road, the University Avenue/Collins Ferry roundabout, the temporary lights on Chaplin Hill at Exit 155, the new Morgantown Industrial Park access bridge, the Exit 155 interchange upgrades, the new Harmony Grove interchange, and modifications to Willey Street as major projects that will either be under construction or make significant progress to that end in 2025.
“It’s exciting to hear about our new DOT secretary. We’re hoping to really hit the ground running with a lot of projects we have going on,” Commissioner Sean Sikora said.
In other news from Wednesday’s meeting, Granville Mayor Patty Lewis provided an update on the forthcoming University Town Centre traffic lights that have been a topic of discussion since September 2021.
The lights will cost just over $1 million split three ways between Granville, the county and developer WestRidge. They’ll address two problem areas – one where University Town Centre Drive passes between Walmart and the WVU Medicine facility, and another at the bottom of the hill between Granville Square and Sesame Drive, which provides access to Chick-fil-A, Wendy’s, Panda Express, etc.
“All four pole foundations at the Walmart intersection have achieved the required depth. The rebar and anchor bolts were installed, concrete was poured and an independent concrete inspection is being conducted to make sure it meets all the cold weather requirements for curing,” Lewis said. “Blue and Gold Development, as a subcontractor, has started grading activities for the increased turning radius at the Walmart intersection for the pedestrian crossing at that site.”
Foundation work at the Sesame Drive pole sites was expected to be complete this week, but has been slowed by the weather.
Lastly, the commission approved a request from Monongalia County Abandoned & Dilapidated Property Enforcement Agency to move properties at 16 Pond Road, 1 Red Bud Lane and 38 Dews Ave. to the complaint stage of the county’s enforcement process.
