MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The state Division of Highways has developed three options to improve interstate access to the Morgantown Industrial Park before construction of the proposed I-79 Harmony Grove interchange.
The state has offered options to meet the commitment made to Mountaintop Beverage for improved interstate access by 2025. The Interchange Justification Report (IJR) was submitted to justify the project two years ago and it could be another two years before the document is approved.
The DOH proposal would build a new bridge south of the Westover Bridge for about $70 million and accomplish it before the 2025 deadline. According to Austin, the project would be paid for by a state and federal match, typically 80 percent federal and 20 percent state.
Morgantown-Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director Bill Austin said three options are being considered.
One option for the bridge proposes it crossing the Monongahela River south of the Morgantown Lock and north of the BFS Gas Station on Don Knotts Boulevard. The connection would be to River Road, which would also be reconstructed in the proposal.
“It would provide the traffic from the Morgantown Industrial Park almost direct access to I-68,” Austin said. “It would also be a benefit to the Mountain Line Transit Authority because they wouldn’t have to go all the way through downtown because they’re right there on Dupont Road.”
Another option is to connect the new road and bridge with U.S. 119, near Scott Avenue and intersect with Smithtown Road.
Austin said the DOH is willing to take on the project and continue supporting a new exit off I-79 (Harmony Grove) because of the recent and continuing growth unique to this area of the state.
A third option is crossing the river and connecting with Greenbag Road, but that proposal includes significant topographical challenges.
“As you know, the vast majority of the state, except for the eastern panhandle, is shrinking,” Austin said. “Morgantown and the eastern panhandle are the two communities where we’re seeing the greatest success in attracting new jobs.”
Austin said adding exits to an interstate is an exhaustive process due to federal highway and safety standards. But he is comfortable that the Harmony Grove interchange and the state-proposed connector will get wide government support because of their economic and community impacts.
“I believe we’ve gotten a good-faith effort from the state,” Austin said. “They actually proposed this because they were concerned they were not going to be able to meet the representations that had been made to get interstate access to Mountaintop, and this is their effort to make sure.”
Morgantown Area Partnership President and CEO Russ Rogerson, has been working with Mountaintop Beverage and state highway officials to keep the Harmony Grove project moving toward completion. Unlike many projects across the country, our elected leaders are not only aware of what the Harmony Grove interchange is, but they also know the impact of Mountaintop Beverage and understand the importance of meeting the 2025 obligations made when the company decided to move here.
“Having U.S. Senator Capito’s support and pushing from the top to make sure this is on the DOT radar screen and that they will pay the appropriate amount of attention to it is critical.”
The MMMPO meeting regarding these options is scheduled for Aug. 17 at 6 p.m. at the Monongalia County Board of Education office at 1751 Earl Core Road.
*A previous version of this article incorrectly reported the MMMPO had endorsed the bridge crossing near the BFS gas station on Don Knotts Blvd. The MMMPO will meet in August 17th to discuss the options.