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Route 9 - Status Report
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This information was last updated in 2003 and 2004.
Please check back as this information will be updated soon. |
(The Route 9 upgrade has been divided into four segments: Charles Town to the Virginia State line; Martinsburg to Charles Town; Martinsburg Bypass; and Berkeley Springs to Martinsburg Bypass.)
The project area for Route 9 is located in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia through Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan Counties. Currently, Route 9 is a two-lane road with no controlled access. More than two dozen intersections and dozens of private and commercial residents currently exist along the highway.
A study conducted in 1978 entitled "A Summary Report on the Eastern Panhandle Area Transportation Study" generated interest in upgrading and expanding Route 9. The study ranked projects in priority order as follows: (1) Charles Town to the Virginia state line, (2) Martinsburg to Charles Town and (3) Berkeley Springs to Martinsburg. In 1992, the WVDOT initiated the process to build the projects. Currently, the Charles Town to Virginia state line project is in the construction phase, while the other two projects are still in the design report and environmental phase. Road alignment changes and cultural resource issues have delayed the completion of the environmental phase. $110 million dollars in federal funds has been set aside for both segments and cannot be used for any other project.
Charles Town to Virginia State Line
This project involves upgrading four miles of Route 9 into a proposed four-lane divided highway from Charles Town east to the Virginia state line. Improvements to Route 9 are necessary to address four areas of concern for residents and visitors to the Charles Town area. They include increasing population and tourist visits, traffic volume, safety and roadway deficiencies. Total cost of this segment consisting of four miles is estimated at about $90 million, including a major bridge across the Shenandoah River.
The population of Jefferson County has steadily increased for the past 30 years. A great deal of the development, which has occurred in the project area, is a result of the need for affordable housing by residents employed in the Washington, DC area. Furthermore, the scenic beauty and historical significance of the area has greatly increased the tourism industry.
Average daily traffic volumes on existing Route 9 for base year 1992 and design year 2012 show an expected increase from 10,500 – 22,100 vehicles per day. The analysis of the current two-lane road indicates the entire portion of the Route 9 study area will operate at an unacceptable level of service in each direction for both base year 1992 and design year 2012.
Improved safety is a primary purpose of the project. The results of a study comparing accidents on this segment of Route 9, with annual statewide averages, clearly shows the need for upgrading of Route 9. The study documents that the number of accidents on the present Route 9 are 32 percent higher than the statewide average and fatalities being 76 percent higher than the statewide average.
Existing Route 9 was originally designed as a rural collector road in 1930. The safe and efficient operation of the current roadway is affected by numerous factors including: speed in excess of the design speed, school bus stops in hazardous locations, passing zones in hazardous areas, varying pavement widths, insufficient drainage, numerous reverse curves, etc.
A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for this segment of the highway was presented in a public hearing and Alternative E was selected as the preferred route. The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) has completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and received the Record of Decision (ROD).
The Keeper of the National Register of Historic Properties in Washington, DC has reviewed all historic property identified in the area and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) has reviewed the potential effects on historic sites.
A clearing and grubbing project has been completed on the segment between U.S. 340 and Cattail Run Road. At this time, additional construction work is underway on that portion of the road.
Ultimately, under Section 4(f) of the National Transportation Act, the Secretary of Transportation cannot make a decision regarding the acquisition of 4(f) historic property unless there is no other prudent or feasible alternative. In this case, the "path of least effect" must be determined. The Secretary then can make a determination on the alignment and right-of-way regarding the historic sites.
Martinsburg to Charles Town
This project is still in its early stages of development. Preliminary engineering work is being conducted on the Preferred Alignment to verify possible impacts upon environmental and cultural resources. The estimated cost of this segment is $110 million. Currently, it is a nine-mile section of highway with high accident rates, increased traffic and residential as well as commercial development. The project is intended to provide additional highway capacity to accommodate increased demand resulting from regional growth, as well as improve the safety of the highway.
Future residential, commercial and industrial development is anticipated regardless of highway construction. Substantial population growth coupled with business growth and expansion in both the public and private sectors will ensure significant increases in traffic volume. Traffic volume is not evenly distributed along Route 9. It is highest at locations closer to Martinsburg and I-81. Due to Route 9's location with respect to Martinsburg and I-81, this pattern is expected to continue. As traffic volume grows, capacity problems will arise along the route. Thousands of employees of major businesses in the county use Route 9 daily to get to and from work. Traffic is heavy and major tie-ups are commonplace. The accident rate between Charles Town and Martinsburg is higher than the statewide average.
Existing Route 9 has numerous roadway deficiencies including: horizontal curves, poorly functioning intersections with limited sight distances, few center turn lanes, no right turn lanes and no shoulders for emergency purposes.
Two completed Draft Environmental Impact Statements (DEIS) have been presented in public meetings and agreement has been reached on preferred alternatives. Currently, engineers are looking at possible alternative routes around Kearneysville to avoid taking any historic property in this area.
Estimated Timetable
Martinsburg-to-Charles Town Project
| Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) |
March 2002 |
| Federal Highway Administration Record of Decision |
May 2002 |
Martinsburg Bypass
One of the key elements of improving highway travel in the Eastern Panhandle is a new Martinsburg Bypass. The West Virginia Division of Highways proposes to relocate an approximately five-mile section of WV Route 9 around Martinsburg in Berkeley County.
The project is designed to improve traffic safety in the area while freeing Martinsburg from its current traffic congestion problems. The Bypass would also improve access throughout the study corridor.
The Division of Highways conducted a public information meeting on the project January 24th, and received public comments until February 28, 2000. After considering all public input, the WVDOH is studying additional alternatives.
The Environmental Assessment, required of every highway project, should be ready in spring 2002 and will be circulated widely for comments. Another public meeting and a public hearing on the project will be held soon thereafter. The purpose of this public meeting is to offer local residents the opportunity to comment on the preferred alternative before any final decisions were made.
By summer, the WVDOH expects to have chosen the final route for the Bypass and to have received sign off from all resource agencies involved in the process. This would allow the WVDOH to proceed with final design and right-of-way work.
Maps containing information on all build alternatives and the preferred alternative can be found by logging on to WVDOH's web site dedicated to the Route 9 project at www.wvroute9.com.
Click Here to View Maps
Berkeley Springs to Martinsburg
One important element of the Route 9 upgrade in the Eastern Panhandle involves the segment from Berkeley Springs to Martinsburg. This part of the overall Route 9 project is still in the very early stages of development. A corridor has been selected.
In mid-February 2001, the WVDOH cancelled a study that would have determined the location of relocated WV 9 from Martinsburg to Berkeley Springs.
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