Wetzel Residents to
Discuss Concerns Over W.Va. 89 Traffic
By
ART LIMANN
Staff
Writer, Wheeling Intelligencer, April 1, 2008, Page 9
WILEYVILLE - A group of Wetzel County citizens organized to express concern
about safety issues along W.Va. 89 and secondary roads carrying an increasingly
large number of heavy and oversized trucks will now address issues surrounding
oil and gas drilling in the region.
The
Wetzel County Action Group will hold a public meeting at 1 p.m. Saturday at the
Wileyville Auction House on W.Va. 7 to address the issue of oil and gas drilling
in the Silver Hill area. Local legislators, West Virginia Division of Highways
officials, local authorities, representatives of gas and oil companies and a
representative of Gov. Joe Manchin's office have been invited to attend.
The
organization was able to get 400 individuals who travel W.Va. 89, Doolin Run
Road and others to sign a petition in October seeking to reconstruct the roads
"to safely handle the increase the heavy truck traffic due to gas and oil well
drilling."
The
petition states, "These roads have deteriorated to the point that they pose a
public safety hazard. The excess weight, lack of escort vehicles
for oversized trucks and rate of speed at which they travel endangers not
only the public traveling these roads but also our school children. our
emergency personnel etc."
Members said the action was necessary due to a number of serious crashes
and the high volume of heavy truck traffic,
which has caused the roads to crumble. Other issues include trucks driving in
the center of the road, sideswiping other vehicles or forcing them off the road
and blind, sharp turns. Only a few bridges can be used, they said.
Between 40 and 50 people are active in the group. Safety is their major concern.
And according to member Raymond Renaud, the roads were only designed for light
truck and car traffic.
Because of the oil and gas drilling being done in the area, there are now
vehicles on the road that are heavier than they were designed to carry, he said.
"We're not trying to stop progress," Renaud said.
The
truck companies are obtaining permits to drive the roads, which makes it legal
for the companies to utilize them. The Wetzel County Sheriff’s Department,
however, has stopped trucks from running these roads when weather conditions
were bad.
Group members contend if the government is going to permit the heavy trucks it
must provide the road to accommodate them. After the issues were discussed at
previous meetings, group members claim some things are getting better. Drilling
companies have made efforts to fill potholes and repair damaged road edges, but
the group maintains more needs to be done.
The
group claims between 70 and 100 wells are expected to be drilled in northeastern
Wetzel County over the next six to 10 years. State and county funds are
currently not available to address the continuing damage. Members said they hope
the state Legislature will address the problem as soon as possible.