FAIRMONT – On Fairmont’s East Side, all roads lead to New Street, Water Street, East Park Avenue, Merchant Street and Morgantown Avenue.
Or they soon will.
After months of gridding out the details, the city and West Virginia’s Division of Highways announced Thursday work on a new intersection spooling all of the above will be underway soon.
Said roadways are heavily traveled, carrying traffic to and from the Gateway Connector, which links Interstate 79 directly to the East Side and Merchant Street.
It picks up even more in summer, when a concert series is in full swing at nearby Palatine Park.
Those controversial traffic delineators on New Street at the entrance to Palatine have been removed to allow cars and trucks into the expanse, which also includes a boat ramp for the Monongahela River.
A turning lane onto New Street is being reopened as part of the project. The lane had been closed two years ago during signal light upgrades on the roadway.
Earl Gaskins, who manages Division of Highways District 4, which takes in the thoroughfare, said ease and safety of trucks hauling boats to get them on the water at the park was a prime motivator to get the work done.
“The City of Fairmont has been great to partner with,” he said. “We’re happy to finally come to a solution.”
Meanwhile, the city’s popular Three Rivers Festival will run from May 21-23 at Palatine Park with a carnival, food vendors and fireworks – not to mention the signature grand parade. The summer concerts will follow.
“We appreciate the city’s commitment to real solutions,” said Mike Swearingen, who is serving as this year’s president of the festival. “We can’t wait for another year of excitement at Palatine Park.”
