What are Harrison County drivers saying about U.S. 50's dangerous intersections with West Virginia 98 and 23?

Robin Smith of Sun Valley thinks a stoplight going in at Route 50 and Route 98 is a good idea.

"Traffic lights are good in high-traffic areas. Maybe it will stop some people from using the intersection when they don't have to, to avoid the light."

The United Hospital Center employee uses the intersection at least twice a day.

"I take my child to Wilsonburg Elementary and come back through the intersection to go to work at the hospital. I don't think the caution lights slow most people down."

n Rick Kiner, who lives on Cherry Camp Road, owns tobacco shops in Bridgeport, Salem and Pennsboro and drives Route 50 several times each day.

He considers Route 23 and Wolf Summit area intersections dangerous. While he's never been involved in an accident, he said he has come very close several times and been run off the road by coal trucks.

"Wolf Summit (Sycamore Road) is real bad. The coal trucks come out there and don't even stop," he said. "That's the problem. People don't stop (at intersections). It doesn't matter what you put up -- if people aren't going to stop, they're not going to stop."

Kiner believes a full-fledged traffic light at the intersection of Routes 50 and 98 is a bad idea.

"Anytime you stop traffic on a highway like that, it's dangerous," he said. "I think it will cause more wrecks."

n Debbie Savina of Raccoon Run Road, Bristol, also works at the hospital and travels Route 50 from Clarksburg to Doddridge County almost every day.

"I am in favor of the caution lights at the Route 98 intersection. When truckers are coming down that grade, I'm afraid a stoplight could cause more deaths. An extended on-ramp could also help."

She has also seen the remains of accidents at the Route 23 intersection.

"The DOH (Division of Highways) should lower the speed limit at both of those sites, and better signage might help."

n Linda Siders of Sun Valley Road travels through the Route 98 intersection every day.

"They need to do something to make it safer. But I don't know if a traffic light is the answer," she said.

n Barbara Campbell of West Milford travels Route 50 to her job at Salem International University five days a week.

"It's dangerous with all those side roads coming out."

She does not want lights at either routes 98 or 23 because of fears of rear-end collisions.

n Mark Abbott, a Clarksburg city employee, lives in Parkersburg and drives Route 50 twice a day, at least. Abbott believes the biggest thing that can be done to lower the number and severity of accidents is to reduce the speed limit.

"Especially on top of that hill above (the Route 98 intersection). Even with the 45 mph warning sign, I've seen people pass me doing 70 or 75," he said.

Abbott also was concerned about the Route 23 intersection. He said he stops at the Citgo there often. He said an overhead caution signal or warning signs would be a welcome addition to the area.

"I've got a slow diesel with not much acceleration," he said. "You really take your life into your own hands when you're leaving that Citgo station heading west. Crossing 50 to go east, you have about the same situation."

Abbott believes the traffic signal at the Route 98 intersection is a good idea, but took it one step further. He believes that a bypass from that intersection to the area of the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center is badly needed. That plan has been considered, but Abbott said it "can't happen soon enough."

Compiled by staff writers Jim Fisher, Darlene Taylor and regional editor Nora Edinger