MORGANTOWN — In early July, hope was fading that the West Virginia Division of Highways would be able to get traffic lights installed on Chaplin Hill Road at I-79 Exit 155 in time to assist with the influx of fall traffic into Morgantown.
Now there appears to be some doubt as to whether they’ll be in place before the calendar turns over to 2026.
During a recent update before the Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board, MPO Executive Director Bill Austin said the construction of the temporary lights isn’t scheduled to be open for bidding until October.
Asked if that schedule would get the lights in place in December, Austin replied, “That would be optimistic.”
The lights have been a priority of the MPO since October 2023 – more than a year before DOH brass officially signed off on their placement.
The local commitment was reinforced in November, when the DOH said the MPO would need to chip in $750,000 of the money it receives for suballocation in order to get the job done this fall, which it did.
According to the DOH, the lights will be full signal installations using wood poles in order to avoid the long lead time for steel support poles. The project will consist of signals at both the I-79 northbound and southbound ramps along Chaplin Hill Road.
The lights carry the “temporary” tag as there is a major overhaul of Exit 155 in the works.
On July 9, the Monongalia County Commission, developer WestRidge and the state signed off on a three-way agreement to construct the $135 million upgrade.
In other news, Austin said the DOH has softened its position on a potential pedestrian bridge over Don Knotts Boulevard.
The bridge would provide a direct connection between Morgantown’s 1st Ward and amenities along the city’s riverfront.
Despite being a longtime wishlist item for the city and a Tier 1 priority of the MPO, the DOH has had its doubts that such a facility could be reasonably constructed given the significant drop in elevation from the 1st Ward side of Don Knotts down to the rail-trail.
In December, the MPO Policy Board approved $37,200 for consultant Kimley-Horn to put together a project feasibility study.
In May, the consultant presented a cost of $7.4 million to $11.1 million to build an approximately 1,300 foot paved trail starting at the corner of Callen Avenue and Lawnwood Street and descending at 4.5% grade down to the bridge, which would deliver pedestrians and cyclists to the rail-trail access and parking lot near Mountaineer Heritage Park.
“There have always been concerns from the division of highways about that project. The discussions have resulted in the division of highways accepting the idea that this is a potential idea that could be constructed. If the city and the MPO move forward with it, it’s one that could happen,” Austin said. “So, that is a milestone considering how long the city of Morgantown has been working on this project.”
As for some other projects in and around Morgantown
- The design work for improvements to the intersection of Smithtown Road (W.Va. 73) and Don Knotts Boulevard (U.S. 119) is wrapping up and the project will be out to bid in 2026. Previously estimated in the $2 million to $2.5 million range, the work will include a new traffic light and a reconfiguration of the intersection to provide two departure lanes heading south (away from town) on Don Knotts.
- The design study for Phase II of Green Bag Road improvements, which will include everything outside the middle section being addressed in Phase I, is being finalized and will likely be available for public review later this fall. Phase I, which includes roundabouts at the Kingwood Pike/Dorsey Avenue intersection and the Mississippi Street intersection, is currently tied up in court as the DOH is attempting to claim a number of properties via eminent domain.
- Widening projects on Van Voorhis Road and the eastern segment of West Run Road are now scheduled for completion in spring 2027.
- The roundabout under construction at the intersection of University Avenue and Collins Ferry Road is anticipated for completion in August 2026.
