MORGANTOWN — The dance.
That’s how longtime Mayfield Road resident Brent Field described the forced negotiation that occurs when two vehicles meet on the one-lane country road.
These days those meetings aren’t as rare as they used to be. In fact, Field said, they’re becoming quite common — far too common for some.
“We have an issue,” Field told the Monongalia County Commission on Wednesday. “If the locals can’t get up or down the hill, they’re going to get a little saucy, and that’s what we’re having happen, gentlemen.”
Field was one of a half-dozen Mayfield Road residents to either show up at Wednesday’s meeting or provide commentary via email.
There appear to be compounding issues.
One, they said, the tiny road has largely fallen off the state radar, meaning a lack of routine maintenance and attention has allowed it to fall into disrepair, further restricting the driving surface.
Two, the trickle of traffic up and down the one-lane road has turned into a steady stream.
A lot of that traffic is heading to 240 Mayfield Road, home of Rise Athletic Training, a new 15,000 square-foot gym used by groups like the Morgantown Volleyball Club and Cheat Lake Basketball.
Jack Adams owns the gym as well as Mountain Laurel Kennels, also on Mayfield Road.
“The traffic has increased probably 100-fold. We have probably anywhere from 80 to 110, 120 vehicles Monday through Friday now with the gym traffic, kennel, the other businesses, and that’s not counting the residents as well,” Adams said, adding, “It’s turning into an issue where I see potential civil issues, altercations that would require police interaction and that sort of thing because a lot of people don’t like the traffic. They tend to handle it a different way.”
Mayfield Road resident Tony Kleb said conflicts between residents and people trying to access the businesses are becoming increasingly common.
“During the busy time, when vehicles are coming up and down, it becomes a war zone,” Kleb said. “The residents are blocking the guests coming to the kennel and the gym, not pulling over. Kids are getting run off into the ditches. It’s just become a mess up there.”
Mary Beth Marstiller said the road conditions coupled with the influx of traffic makes the route all but impassable at times. What happens, she asked via email, when it’s a fire truck or ambulance stuck waiting for a line of vehicles to navigate around one another?
Amy Hagedorn agreed.
“Traveling Mayfield Road is not for the faint of heart and it can be very unforgiving. It is narrow, with blind turns, potholes, uneven surfaces and large culverts,” Hagedorn wrote. “It is irresponsible to facilitate this style of business without the infrastructure to support it.”
Commission President Tom Bloom said the commission would reach out to the DOH immediately regarding the issue and attempt to schedule a local meeting, potentially in April, to discuss county-wide road matters.
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