ToquiNotes: Some Things to Know about the Route 50 Intersection at Emily Drive and City's Camera System
By Jeff Toquinto on January 28, 2023
Recently, Bridgeport Police Chief Mark Rogers was sitting at his desk when a call went out for a vehicle accident on U.S. Route 50 where it intersects with Emily Drive and Lodgeville Road. It was the first accident call at the intersection since a camera was installed there.
“As the officers were on there way, I was able to pull up the camera and the first thing I did was to see how bad the accident was,” said Rogers. “After that, I was able to go back and see the accident and what transpired before the officers got there.”
Two things happened that was the purpose of the camera in question – the first of more than 100 in the city and 22 at various intersections in Bridgeport – was installed. Rogers knew the manpower heading to the intersection was sufficient and he knew the responsible party.
“I could see how bad it was, the traffic situation, and everything else. I could also see who was at fault,” said Rogers. When asked if there were any issues regarding what he saw, Rogers said the officers informed him that the responsible party “admitted it was their fault upon arrival.”
I am writing this after a piece I wrote on the camera at the intersection ran Jan. 18. The piece generated thousands upon thousands of clicks and plenty of comments as well – plenty of which had more to do with the intersection than the camera.
It is the comments that this is about, and not the ones with profanity that were deleted as soon as witnessed – although I am certain they contain a few of the points that are mentioned here. As for comments that the cameras are for nefarious purposes and part of government overreach, this is not for you. Whether I agree with that assessment is a moot point for this blog.
That said, I want to shore up a bit of history and a bit of thoughts that are out there.
Let’s begin. The intersection sits squarely between Bridgeport and Clarksburg. The exit out of Emily Drive between Wendy’s and MedExpress is Bridgeport. As you go into Eastpointe on Emily Drive, you are on the Clarksburg side. The same holds true on Lodgeville Road.
If you see a wreck there, there is often a good chance you will see both cities sending first responders.
“It’s about as unique a border between cities as you will find when you talk jurisdictions,” said Rogers. “Clarksburg assists us, and we assist them when help is needed. When there is a serious wreck there it requires a significant amount of manpower, which makes the groups working together beneficial for the safety of all.”
Now, just because the roadways are in Bridgeport and Clarksburg here is what else was talked about, and that was comments on why Bridgeport or Clarksburg do not fix the intersection or traffic signals. It is simple. Neither city owns it.
“The entire intersection is the state of West Virginia’s from the roadways to the traffic signals and the technology that handles the timing of the lights,” said Rogers. “We can ask for assistance with the timing, for repairs if we see an issue, but anything done there is on the state.”
For example, Bridgeport was not just able to install the camera on the light tower. A process with the state was required.
“We had to enter into an agreement allowing us access to the intersection poles and the power,” said Rogers.
Once the agreement was complete, the first camera went up. The camera is part of a $282,510.56 contract approved in October of 2021 by City Council and has been reported on for the last couple of years on Connect-Bridgeport and every other local media outlet. For those caught off guard and claiming it was “hush hush,” it was very public and, at least on our site, drew mostly positive feedback.
“Eventually, we’ll have them at more intersections and at facilities throughout the city,” said Rogers.
It should also be noted that the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department already has license plate readers at the U.S. Route 50-Interstate 79 intersection and have for a few years. To date, there have been no public reports or complaints regarding that being abused.
That leads to the comments that cameras are going to allow the city to write speeding tickets. To date, the cameras have led to exactly zero speeding tickets. Rogers said, in the future, the number will remain at zero.
Here is the thing: Even if the city wanted to do that, they cannot.
“The cameras not only lack the technology needed to do that, but it’s against state law to use cameras for that purpose,” he said. “It’s for historical use to see accurately what took place if there is a significant collision or some type of criminal act and allows us to be able to see the vehicles needed to be seen.
“We’re also not selling information or biometrics,” he continued. “They are just really good cameras that will protect the public and make it easier for us to protect the public. I know there are some you can’t convince, but there are going to be no tickets from the cameras.”
Another common pair of comments, which included several laced with profanity, first dealt with the cost of the camera system for the city. Some believed the $240,000-plus was for the one camera. It is not, and it was clearly stated in the article.
The second involves folks questioning that the money used for the entire camera system should be used to fix the intersection. A quarter of a million dollars might get you a high-end consultant-based traffic study. For the state to properly reconfigure that intersection is a proposition that will easily cost in the tens of millions.
Will that ever happen? Who knows? Bridgeport and Clarksburg officials have both approached the state about the problems with the intersection over the years. Mayor Andy Lang has been in Charleston more than once during his tenure to talk about the intersection.
I felt there was a chance when the “Roads to Prosperity” initiative was announced by Gov. Jim Justice and it included a complete redo of 
the Interstate 79 and Route 50 interchange. That would have been the ripe time for Clarksburg, Bridgeport, and Harrison County officials to get the Route 50 intersection with Emily Drive and Lodgeville redone as well.
the Interstate 79 and Route 50 interchange. That would have been the ripe time for Clarksburg, Bridgeport, and Harrison County officials to get the Route 50 intersection with Emily Drive and Lodgeville redone as well.
However, since it was talked about in 2018 things are silent. While it may not be dead, it appears to be on the backburner at best.
“There has been some discussion in the past with the state and I’m sure there will be in the future about redoing that intersection,” said Rogers. “I feel pretty safe to say the city would welcome a state project.”
Another sections of comments, and one I agreed with, is that the intersection is poorly designed for the traffic in the area. As for the Emily Drive intersection, however, comments regarding whoever designed it being “an idiot” or far worse, is way off base.
I actually know the engineer who designed the intersection. Years ago, while with another media outlet, I did a story on that very intersection with him. He said what several astute readers pointed out – it was never designed to handle the traffic it is handling today.
The original design was for Kmart, the plaza beside it and stores down to the old Kroger. Future development was never brought to him 
for design and the design done was more than adequate for the initial development. Even Platinum Drive was not initially considered, which further complicates the myriad of roadways.
for design and the design done was more than adequate for the initial development. Even Platinum Drive was not initially considered, which further complicates the myriad of roadways.
There were multiple folks who politely pointed out traffic studies needed to be done. They’ve been done; more than one and there may be more.
To close it out, let us not forget those who commented on poor driving, people on their phones, and lack of patience causing more accidents than anything else is correct. If you think everyone is paying attention, just sit at the “do not block intersection” sign at Emily and Platinum Drive anytime there is a bit of traffic there and watch over and over as people continue to block said intersection.
Thanks, and I hope this helped out for those who commented back 10 days ago. And for the record, I know there are issues on the Lodgeville side of things including the entrance to Tolley Drive. That's a topic for another day.
