The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced that the Greenbag Road Corridor Planning and Design Project of the Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization will receive $4.2 million from the US government for improvements. Senators Manchin and Capito jointly announced the government grant. The money was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation through its Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program.
In the past five years, 218 Morgantown motor vehicle accidents have been reported on Greenbag Road. The Morgantown Monongalia MPO will design two segments of the road to help make them safer and reduce crashes, said the USDOT. The redesign will also add more bus stops and widen each lane on the road to reduce pedestrian accidents. The two areas of focus for the project will be the intersection of Kingmont Pike/Dorsey Avenue and the intersection of Mississippi Street and Greenbag Road as well as the s-curve where Greenbag Road meets Don Knotts Boulevard.
Walkers and bike riders will also benefit from the project, which will look into a possible off-road path parallel to Greenbag Road that would provide safe access for pedestrians to the Decker’s Creek Rail Trail. The design will also add sidewalks or multi-use paths. Communities including Bluegrass Village and Marjorie Gardens will benefit not only from the improved roads and sidewalks, but will also have safer access to jobs, education, churches, shopping, and recreation.
The original plan from the WVDOH published in 2019 focused on identifying ways to improve Greenbag Road (CR 857) as an alternative truck route to reduce and/or eliminate trucks from traveling through downtown Morgantown by providing a safer, continuous route from WV 7 to US 119.
“These intersection improvements will increase the overall traffic capacity of Greenbag Road (CR 857) between WV 7 and US 119. The overall roadway improvements include wider lanes and shoulders along with a dedicated center turn lane before the Mississippi Avenue intersection.
“A curb and gutter will be installed along the west side of Greenbag Road to help address drainage issues and to provide a sidewalk along the entire route to the Dorsey Avenue/Kingwood Pike intersection. In addition, the west side shoulder will be utilized as a bike lane for the corridor between the commercial district and the residential areas. The sidewalks and crosswalks will provide a safer route for pedestrian traffic from the current commercial area to the numerous residential areas located along Greenbag Road.
“The two major intersections will be reconstructed as single-lane roundabouts to provide for continuous traffic flow and to increase the safety of the traveling public as they enter each intersection. The roundabouts have been selected instead of signalized intersections based on traffic analysis and level of service (LOS).
Replacing a stop sign or traffic signal with a roundabout improves traffic flow and safety because the roundabout’s tight circle forces drivers to slow down, and traffic flows in the same direction, preventing the most dangerous types of intersection crashes: right-angle, left-turn, and head-on collisions. Roundabouts are a safer alternative to traffic signals and stop signs, improve traffic flow, and are generally safer for pedestrians.
“The roundabouts will also be developed to allow the safe movement of pedestrians along the sidewalk on the west side of Greenbag Road and will include lighting on each approach to the roundabout.”
Jeffery Robinette was admitted to practice law in 1991 and is licensed in all levels of state and federal trial courts in West Virginia. Mr. Robinette is also licensed in all state and federal appeals courts in West Virginia and the United States Supreme Court. As a National Board Certified Trial Attorney who has handled hundreds of motor vehicle, injury, and construction defect claims and a leading author on insurance claims settlement issues and difficulties in West Virginia, Jeff Robinette is uniquely qualified to represent your best interest.
