Barring a shortage of state funding, it appears the City of Bridgeport will have another paving project done within its municipal borders this year after all. During a recent Bridgeport Utility Board meeting, City Engineer Tom Brown told those gathered of projects being discussed with the West Virginia Division of Highways and it was learned that at least one project could be done before the end of the current paving season.

 

“The DOH may be paving Johnson Avenue from the area (near) Sheetz to the area on Johnson Avenue where they paved last year,” said Brown at the July BUB meeting.

 

On Wednesday, an official with the DOH confirmed that was likely going to be the case. DOH District 4 Construction Engineer Jason Nelson said the project for the paving has been programmed to be done. Although he believes it’s going to happen, he cautioned that it’s not a sure thing for this year.

 

“It’s not been let yet, or advertised so it’s subject to change. Until it’s advertised we can’t say 100 percent that it’s going to happen,” said Nelson. “Part of the reason for that is that the later the paving season you get with existing jobs taking place, the future paving are normally dependent on how much funding is left from priority spring and early summer projects. You have to look at what has taken place and see what is over and under budget.

 

“You don’t want people to think it’s definitely going to happen because there’s a chance that it won’t,” he continued.

 

Nelson said the area in question that would be paved would go from the section of Johnson Avenue that was paved last year – in front of Bridgeport Middle School – an area just before Sheetz. Nelson said it will stop at the entrance to the State Street Plaza.

 

“I think you’re looking at a start date of mid-September,” said Nelson.

 

For those wondering why the DOH is doing the paving of Johnson Avenue instead of the City of Bridgeport, there’s a good reason for it. Johnson Avenue is a state road, similar to Main Street, Philadelphia Avenue, Platinum Drive, Lodgeville Road and others.

In the same meeting, the city is working with the DOH to help address another road that is a state roadway. The section of road is near Briarwood and South Hills. Brown said the road was paved within the last six to eight years by the state, but is failing again and could require work with drainage and other issues needing addressed to make sure it doesn’t fail again.

 

The city is hoping to work out an agreement to assist on the issue.  Finance Director Monica Musgrave pointed out that City Council approved $150,000 in carryover – budget surplus dollars – to go toward paving. Council determined some of that money could be used to handle paving of major problem areas that are DOH roads through the city.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows the stretch of Johnson Avenue that is clustered with potholes prior to its intersection with Hall Street, while City Engineer Tom Brown is pictured below.