WESTOVER, W.Va. — A year ago Monongalia County Commissioners overlooked the area on the west side of Interstate 79 near Granville and Westover and could only imagine what it could look like filled with businesses and with a new interchange off the highway.
Now that vision is taking shape.
The newly named West Ridge Business Park is part of the larger development of the western side of the interstate that includes the new interchange and Monongalia County Ballpark.
“A year ago, in late August, we stood as we looked over the chasm to the west side and on August 22nd there is to be a ribbon cutting for that bridge. It’s there in a year,” remarked County Commissioner Ed Hawkins on a recent edition of Morgantown A.M.
Commissioners recently toured the site and were updated on the progress. Commissioner Tom Bloom stated the the shell is completed for the distribution warehouse, that could eventually employ several thousand people. Bloom also emphasized that businesses and investors are backing the project.
“It isn’t speculative. It isn’t where they build a plot then they have to go find someone. They already have the people there to invest in it. I’m just looking forward to when we can announce these things.”
Hawkins estimated that 60 percent of the plots have already been spoken for.
Previously county officials have estimated, once the project is completed it could have an economic impact of $1 billion on the region.