Published: May 18, 2007 11:55 am      

U.S. 50 group may join push for north, south connector

AURORA, W.Va. - The U.S. Route 50 Association will likely become a participating agency with the Federal Highway Administration in the continuing studies on a north/south highway proposal to connect Interstate 68 and Corridor H.

Association secretary Gary Howell told the members of the group at their meeting Wednesday in Aurora that he received the letter of invitation from Greg Bailey of the West Virginia Division of Highways, who is heading up the project in the state.

DOH staff member Norse Angus said he would "encourage participation" by the association because when the current Tier 1 environmental impact study is completed, the next step will be the socio-economic impact of the highway proposal.

The current study will ultimately narrow the original five paths for the proposed corridor to one 4,000-foot-wide path.

William Wood, also of DOH, explained that they just presented findings to the public to indicate they will be recommending the five paths be narrowed to three proposed corridors.

* One follows U.S. Route 220 from Cumberland to West Virginia to state Route 93 to Scherr, where it would connect with Corridor H.

* The second proposal takes the corridor from Cumberland into West Virginia along Knobley Mountain.

* The third follows U.S. 220 from Cumberland beyond Keyser but then veers south toward Moorefield.

Initially members of the association announced support for the latter corridor because they were under the impression that 10 miles of U.S. 50 would become four-lane.

Brian Carr of DOH said that isn't the case and if that route were chosen it would not include any portion of U.S. 50.

Angus said the decision to eliminate two of the five routes was prompted by comments from people concerned about the environmental impacts along Dan's Mountain and the historic farmland of the Patterson Creek Valley.

However, two of the remaining routes overlap near and over parts of the Dan's Mountain Wildlife Management Area.

Angus said the study should be completed in about 18 months with a final preferred route proposed.

The officials said the Tier 2 study would begin after that, if there is funding, and would narrow the corridor further.

"We would do detailed alignments and from that there could be shifts from the proposed route," Angus said. "And those might require revisiting environmental issues."

He said they have learned a lot from the planning of Corridor H as far as sensitive areas are concerned and they want to be sure they have all the information needed before proceeding to construction.

Hampshire County Commissioner Robert Hott asked the highways officials what the most significant issue is in making the final determinations.

Angus said it is historic properties.

Wood said the project is being supported by both Maryland and West Virginia and they must coordinate all their activities and findings with Maryland.

Association facilitator Wayne Spiggle called for comments on the association becoming a participating agency in planning for the project. It was noted that only Hampshire, Mineral and Grant counties will be affected.

Dave Price of Preston County said the association should be part of it anyway.

A discussion was held on the need for federal funding for the continued study. That resulted in requests to U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett's representative, Brenda Frantz, and U.S. Rep. Alan Mollahan's representative, Lotta Neer, to ask the congressmen if there is a possibility of introducing legislation again this year to have the Appalachian Regional Commission consider expanding Corridor O to include the north/south project.

Mona Ridder can be reached at mridder@times-news.com.