by Jennifer Biller

STAFF WRITER

CLARKSBURG -- Some area residents are hoping their opinions and comments will help alleviate traffic problems and improve dangerous roads.

Engineering consultants and West Virginia Department of Transportation officials met with citizens and local officials at a public meeting Tuesday evening at Robert C. Byrd High School to discuss a two-year transportation study for Harrison County.

"We've been collecting data and we can look at traffic volumes and accident rates and get technical information, but we hope to get a number of people who have concerns about a specific area," said Bill Troe, of BRW Consulting.

The purpose of the meeting was to gain input from the people who drive in Harrison County on a daily basis and may know of traffic congestion or troubled areas, Troe said.

A local advisory committee has been working on the study to pinpoint areas of concern.

Some of the goals identified so far in the study are to improve traffic flow within the U.S. Route 50 corridor through Bridgeport with specific focus on Virginia Avenue, Center Street and Philadelphia Avenue; evaluate the potential impacts of a southern bypass of Bridgeport to improve the linkage between Interstate 79 and U.S. Route 50 to the east; improve access between U.S. Route 50 and Old Route 50 on Bridgeport Hill; and provide improved access between U.S. Route 50 and United Hospital Center in Clarksburg.

Other areas of evaluation are U.S. Route 19 and state Route 20.

Linda Cross of Laurel Park was one of those in attendance. She and her husband came to the meeting because they are concerned about U.S. Route 19, she said.

"There's a lot of dangerous curves on that road and I hope something can come out of this meeting," she said.

Another public meeting is scheduled for tonight at the Salem Recreational Barn facility.

Staff writer Jennifer Biller can be reached at 626-1449 or by e-mail at jbiller@exponent-telegram.com.