2024-01-06 05:18:49
photo by: Craig Howell
Weirton Mayor Harold Miller signs a resolution approved by Weirton Council Friday, authorizing an open letter to the West Virginia Division of Highways expressing concerns over the state of local infrastructure. Also pictured is City Clerk Kimberly Long.
By CRAIG HOWELL
For the Sunday News-Register
WEIRTON — Area officials are hoping a united front will help to get answers from the West Virginia Division of Highways on infrastructure maintenance issues.
Weirton Council met in special session Friday morning, unanimously approving a resolution authorizing an open letter be sent to the WVDOH and others over what they said was “neglect and non-communication” which has led to “crippling closures and low-grade road and highway maintenance.”
“This is a resolution and letter, let’s say, out of frustration,” Ward 3 Councilman Fred Marsh said.
According to Marsh, area officials have reached out to DOH representatives regarding a variety of concerns over the years, including the condition of various state roads in Weirton, U.S. 22, disrepair to highway lights and more.
“It all came to a head in recent weeks,” Marsh said, making reference to the unexpected closures of two of the region’s major bridges; the Market Street Bridge connecting an area north of Follansbee with Steubenville, and the Jennings Randolph Bridge connecting Chester and East Liverpool. The Veterans Memorial Bridge, between Weirton and Steubenville, meanwhile, has had traffic limitations in place for the last two years as part of ongoing maintenance. “We’ve gone as far as we can.”
According to a copy of the letter, Weirton officials have been requesting assistance from DOH since January 2021 to address what they described as “lighting failures on our busiest highways.”
The letter notes that in November 2021, 168 of the 492 lights on state Route 2 and U.S. 22 in the area did not function. As of Dec. 12, 2023, 98 of those lights remain dark, Weirton officials report.
“We’re always told it’s one crew for the entire state to address those things,” said Weirton City Manager Mike Adams.
The surface conditions of those roads also were called in question in the letter, which claims experimental patching techniques applied by the WVDOH have made them worse. More rural roads, such as Washington Pike in Wellsburg, also were pointed out in the letter, along with overgrowth and fallen trees officials said often are cleared by local volunteer fire departments.
“All that being said, the help that the local DOH garages give is appreciated but it seems their resources are limited, and dare we say, diverted to central and southern areas like Morgantown, Parkersburg, Charleston and Beckley,” the letter states.
Officials noted the amount of support from state and federal officials in encouraging economic development in the region, but said the condition of the roads may have a negative effect on those continuing efforts.
Weirton officials were joined Friday by representatives of the cities of Steubenville, Ohio; New Cumberland, Chester and Wellsburg, as well as area legislators and leaders of local business, tourism and development.
Steubenville City Manager Jim Mavromatis encouraged reaching out directly to Gov. Jim Justice on the matter, adding, while much of the concerns are located in West Virginia, the condition of local bridges has an impact on residents from throughout the region, and he will contact Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to see what support may be found there.
“Steubenville and Weirton are sister cities. We go back and forth,” he said of the travel and commerce across the Ohio River.
Mavromatis also encouraged a regional push for a growing effort to replace the Market Street Bridge with a new span.
Hancock County Commission President Jeff Davis noted the issues faced by residents and businesses in the northern areas of the county following the closure of the Jennings Randolph Bridge, saying businesses in Chester have seen a 30% to 50% drop in commerce.
“We’re all in this boat together,” Davis said, noting the Jennings Randolph Bridge might be closed for another three weeks to three months while efforts to repair it move forward.
Ed Wedgewood, mayor of Chester, reinforced those concerns.
“Imagine the main artery into town being shut down,” he said, encouraging preparation for the worst and hope for the best.
Brenda Mull, president of the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce, agreed the conditions of local infrastructure will have an effect on economic development.
“When these businesses come in, they look at roads. They look at access,” she said.
Jonathan Smith, project manager for Bidell Gas Compression, noted the need for roads to be in good condition to transport the company’s gas compressor units, which can be around 150,000 pounds, from its facility in Weirton’s north end.
Rachel Keeney, executive director of the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau, said while precise data isn’t yet available, there are concerns the condition of roads and the closure of bridges will limit travel and access to area communities.
“It’s pretty obvious it’s going to have a negative impact,” she said, explaining Cleveland and Columbus are two of the main markets currently targeted by the CVB.
Mayor Dan Dudley of Wellsburg noted his own affinity for visiting Steubenville for concerts and holiday attractions.
“This hurts a lot of people,” he said of the issues with the bridges, in particular.
New Cumberland Mayor Will White also offered his support.
While neither signed on to the letter, both Del. Mark Zatezalo, R-Hancock, and state Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Wheeling, said they understood the concerns and are willing to distribute the letter to others in Charleston, as well as DOH leadership.
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