GRANVILLE, W.Va. — The Town of Granville is one step closer to having shovels in the ground for new traffic lights to be installed at the University Town Center.
After months of discussions and conversations with a combination of state and local officials, easements have been approved for two sets of traffic signals that will begin to be installed by summer 2024. The project is a collaboration between Town of Granville, Monongalia County Commission, and developer WestRidge and a contract could be awarded by Granville Town Council in the spring 2024.
“We’re excited to announce that our easement agreements are secured, we’ve seen the preliminary designs, and we expect bid packages to be going out in January,” said Town of Granville Executive Administrator Latina Mayle on the project.
The two traffic signals will be installed on the end of the University Town Center, closer to the I-79 exit located across from the WestRidge Business Park. The first will be installed at the intersection of the Walmart and WVU Medical Center in the town center, with the second one located at the intersection of Sesame Drive and University Town Center Drive, where several fast food restaurants are located, as well as the Hampton Inn, which has become a meeting hub over the past several years. Local engineering firms Potesta & Associates and French Engineering partnered on the design of the traffic lights, and the locations were selected based on conversations with the DOH, local law enforcement officials and business owners.
“Our public safety (officials), police department has been asking for it, so we’ve just seen a need across the board for signals at both of those areas,” said Mayle on the location selection. “And both of those will also include crosswalks,” he said.
Crosswalks will also be added at the two new traffic signal locations.
According to Mayle, the bidding process is expected to take place in January. After bids are reviewed, award will be contingent on a vote by Granville Town Council.
“Our engineers put all of our documents out to bid, it’s usually out to bid for a couple of weeks and then the bid packages will be opened at one of our council meetings, and that’ll be posted on our website,” Mayle said.
Officials hope to have the signals in operation by the time WVU students return for the 2024 Fall Semester.
“We’ve seen the preliminary designs, and hopefully everyone will see stoplights in the ground by summer,” said Mayle.