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Charles Town to Martinsburg
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The present WV 9 is plagued with a high accident rate, growing traffic congestion and increasing development, both residential and commercial. The current roadway was not designed to handle the situation that is present today, which will only get worse as the Eastern Panhandle continues to grow. Among other problems, WV 9 now has limited sight distances, few center-turn or right-turn lanes, and no shoulders capable of providing capacity for emergencies. Traffic volume is highest closer to Martinsburg and I-81. Thousands of motorists use WV 9 daily to get to and from work, traffic is heavy, and major tie-ups and delays are common. As a result, the accident rate between Martinsburg and Charles Town is higher than the statewide average.
The new 4-lane section of WV 9 will greatly ease the current traffic problems on the existing route, which could then serve local traffic that specifically needs to use it. The construction cost of the Martinsburg to Charles Town section, which is approximately 10 miles in length, has been estimated to be $147 million.
Environmental/Cultural Issues
Three construction alternatives were considered, which could have affected at least 189 individual cultural and historic resources and 3 historic districts within this Section. As a result of public input, and as documented in a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS), the DOH developed the Preferred Alternative, which affects only 1 of the 189 cultural resources in the area that will be directly affected by the project.
An inventory was completed in January 2000 in the vicinity of Bower Road/Border Road and a comprehensive field view found 8 properties with standing structures meeting the age criterion for possible historic sites. National Register eligibility assessments indicate that 4 of those sites (Western View, A.M. Widmyers Farm, Locust Grove Farm and Minor Hurst House) appear to meet the criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
Many of the resources identified as eligible by both federal and state agencies are historic farms with associated buildings, structures and farmland that reflect more than 200 years of historic agricultural use. The boundaries of some historic farms were enlarged to reflect the recommendation of the Keeper of the National Register.
The Preferred Alternative selected is the Presnell alternative, which has been shifted to avoid impacts to historic properties and natural resources. More detail can be found in the 2002 Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement for this section of WV 9 was approved by the Federal Highway Administration on April 29, 2002, and the Record of Decision was approved by the Federal Highway Administration on July 25, 2002.
In the Bardane area, about 100 yards from the existing roadway, researchers found artifacts which date back to about 1787, on what is called the Mt. Pleasant site. These items may have belonged to the first family to settle in the original 346-acre Lord Fairfax grant conveyed to Jacob Hite in March 1752. The excavation unearthed hundreds of clay pipestems, made of a white ceramic, and some still have their bowls attached. The archaeologists also found a thimble, bone buttons, a butterknife, and a copper penny dated 1787 that was minted in Connecticut and that bears the Latin inscription “In freedom and liberty.”
At another site, located in a wooded area near the Fairview Acres subdivision in the Baker Heights section, a dig produced much older artifacts. This area evidently was used, off and on, from about 8500 B.C. to about 500 B.C. The Native Americans who passed through and who may have camped there left behind pottery shards and arrowheads (which experts refer to as projectile points), some of which appear still shiny and ready for use.
Development Status
The design is complete for the entire 10.7 miles of the Charles Town to Martinsburg section and construction is proceeding along two distinct segments: Martinsburg to Kearneysville and Kearneysville to Charles Town. A separate bike path is being constructed adjacent to WV 9 and the construction of that path is included in each appropriate WV 9 construction contract.
Martinsburg to Kearneysville
The current construction cost (completed, current and future projects) regarding the Martinsburg to Kearneysville section is estimated to be $111 million. The construction of the one-mile section between Martinsburg and the Regional Jail (CR 9/31 to CR 9/13) was completed in the summer of 1997.
Construction began in the fall of 2006 on the project to upgrade to 4 lanes (includes 2 bridges) between the Regional Jail (CR 9/13) and Opequon Creek (approximately 1.38 miles). Construction also began in the spring of 2007 to upgrade to 4 lanes (includes 2 bridges) between Opequon Creek and CR 9/19 (approximately 2.05 miles). Both projects are anticipated to be completed in late 2009.
A construction contract has been awarded and construction of the four-lane highway is anticipated to begin in early 2008 along the section between Berkeley CR 9/19 and Jefferson CR 1 (Leetown Road).
Kearneysville to Charles Town
The construction cost regarding the Kearneysville to Charles Town section is estimated to be $74 million. The four-lane roadway is open between Charles Town and Jefferson CR 1 (Leetown Road).
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