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Charles Town to the Virginia State Line
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A study report in 1978 (A Study Report on the Eastern Panhandle Area Transportation Study) ranked this project as the first priority highway need for the area. It would upgrade an approximate 5-mile stretch of WV 9 into a 4-lane divided highway, which not only would provide swifter, easier travel, but also would be materially safer than the present route. The existing WV 9 was designed as a rural-collector road when it was constructed around 1930. The world and the Eastern Panhandle both have changed dramatically since then.
A great deal of the population increase in Jefferson County has occurred in the area where the Division of Highways (DOH) proposed to place this project. Over a 20-year period (1992-2012), the average daily traffic was anticipated to increase from 10,500 to 22,100 vehicles per day. Much of that growth is present today, apparently fulfilling the prediction that the entire portion of the WV 9 study area is operating at an unacceptable level of service in both directions. Safety is the primary purpose for the project. The results of previous studies indicate that the number of accidents along current WV 9 was 32 percent higher than the statewide average for similar facilities, and fatalities along this roadway were 76 percent higher than the state's average.
The construction of this approximate 5-mile segment currently is estimated to be $153 million, which includes previously completed projects, projects under contract and future construction projects. This segment is significantly more expensive on a per-mile basis than others because a major bridge must be constructed across the Shenandoah River as the 4-lane road approaches the Virginia border.
Environmental/Cultural Issues
Five construction alternatives were considered, which could have possibly affected 88 historic resources at least 50 years old. All of the construction alternatives would require acquisition of land from the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. This becomes necessary because the existing WV 9 right-of-way bisects the trail near Keys Gap near the Virginia state line.
The Environmental Impact Statement for this section of the Route 9 relocation project developed information which led to the conclusion that Alternative E was the preferred alternative. The preferred alternative:
- Requires the displacement of only 14 residences;
- Directly affects only 46 acres of agricultural land;
- Involves less than one-third acre of palustrine wetlands and impacts 2,761 feet of perennial stream;
- Was developed to avoid crossings of Cattail Run and associated wetlands and springs (Cattail Run is classified as a High Quality Stream and the spring is a major source of water for the Federal Hill Farm operation);
- Involves only 3 historic resources at least 50 years old
The DOH developed what is called a Minimization Alignment to reduce the impact to an absolute minimum so that only the Fleetwood and Belvedere site are adversely affected. The "minimization," or mitigation, on those sites will effectively shield both sites. At Fleetwood, the grade of the roadway will be depressed so that the highway will not be in the immediate view of the historic structures there. The natural topography at Belvedere will minimize the visual impact, particularly from the main house. The visual impact from that structure will be similar to the existing Charles Town Bypass. Both at Fleetwood and at Belvedere, trees and shrubbery will be planted within the relocated WV 9 right-of-way to further minimize visual impact.
Modern highway planning also requires that experts test the highway right-of-way for potential archaeological sites that could yield important information to those studying the pre-history and history of the area. Within the proposed WV 9 preferred alternative, six archaeological sites appear to have such potential; however none is potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement was approved by the Federal Highway Administration October 16, 2000, and the Federal Highway Administration approved the Record of Decision on January 4, 2001.
Development Status
The design of this approximate 5-mile section is complete. A grade and drain construction project (including a bridge) is complete along the section extending from US 340 to Cattail Run (east of CR 9/3). The construction of the US 340 Frontage Roads that began in September 2006 also is complete. Construction may begin in the spring of 2008 for a grade and drain contract (includes a bridge) along the section extending from Cattail Run (east of CR 9/3) to east of CR 27, and the construction of the Shenandoah River Bridge (approximately 0.51 mile) may begin in the spring of 2009. Additionally, construction of a grade and drain contract (includes a bridge) along the section extending from a proposed new Shenandoah River Bridge to the Virginia Line may begin in the spring of 2010.
The Division of Highways anticipates that in early 2012, construction of all remaining work (paving, signing, pavement markings, etc.) may begin along the section between Charles Town and the Virginia State Line.
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