Beach explains opposition to roundabouts on Green Bag Road

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – How to expand and improve Green Bag Road has been discussed and studied in Monongalia County for the better part of a decade and yet there still does not appear to be a consensus on the best way to move forward.

West Virginia Senator Bob Beach, D-Monongalia, 13, recently posted a letter on social media addressed to Gov. Jim Justice that expressed his opposition to plans to construct a pair of roundabouts along a portion of the road.

Senator Bob Beach (D – Monongalia, 13)

“This is actually a response to the citizens of Monongalia County, particularly in that area of Green Bag Road, who reached out to legislators earlier this year in getting their message to the governor and the Department of Highways,” Beach said on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.”

Plans for the $19 million Roads to Prosperity project include 1.65 miles of Green Bag Road between Napa Auto Parts and Aarons Creek Road. The road will be widened and two roundabouts will be installed at the intersection with Mississippi Street as well as the intersection with Kingwood Pike and Dorsey Avenue.

Residents living near those intersections have vehemently opposed the designs.

“There are other alternatives that they could explore and implement other than a roundabout,” Beach insisted.

One of those alternatives, dedicated turning lanes on Green Bag Road, even garnered 1,115 signatures on a petition supporting the idea. However, the Department of Highways concluded the overall intersection would not operate an acceptable level of service.

In March, Beach met with representatives of the WVDOH and property owners along Green Bag Road to discuss the project. Beach asked the WVDOH to postpone or reconsider its plans for the intersections. That prompted a response from the Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board to send a letter to state Transportation Secretary Jimmy Wriston reiterating its support for the project.

Beach said he is not accountable to the policy board but represents the citizens of Monongalia County.

“My checklist does not include going to the MPO to see if it is ok to proceed forward with communications with the DOH or the governor. I’m representing the citizens of Monongalia County,” said Beach.

There is concern among some local officials in Monongalia County that the lack of consensus on the project will indefinitely delay work and the county could miss out on critical funding. Beach remained confident the project will come to fruition.

“The safety issues will be addressed. There’s no doubt in my mind. Widening of the road in that area will be done, no doubt in my mind. No one is objecting to that. Folks in that area are just strongly objecting to the roundabout.”