For a little more than an hour, Bridgeport officials discussed issues imperative to the city with Congressman David B. McKinley (R-WV) during a meeting in the City Council chamber conference room. And the issues are ones important to many in the community and beyond.

 

During the meeting, McKinley sought input on issues and how he could assist in addressing them. The meeting culminated in McKinley asking the top priorities for attention. Not surprisingly, the number one issue provided by City Engineer Beth Fox and Community Development Director Andrea Kerr was fixing storm drainage issues on U.S. Route 50.

 

“We’re at a standstill,” Fox told McKinley on Route 50.

 

Fox explained the city has been working on the matter for years with the state, but outside of doing a hydraulic study wasn’t sure when the project would be addressed despite multiple meetings with officials in Charleston at both the West Virginia Department of Transportation and Division of Highways.

 

Ironically, the meeting wasn’t the only one today involving the topic of U.S. Route 50 and other roadways in the city. Bridgeport Mayor Andy Lang was in Charleston today to meet with DOT Secretary Byrd White on the matter.

 

White, who was contacted via speaker phone by McKinley at the end of the meeting, asked the Secretary about the project. After telling McKinley they had met today with Lang, he promised to provide a status update on the hydraulic study by the afternoon.

 

McKinley also wanted an updated list of priority projects for Harrison County. White also promised to get that to the congressman to see if, and where, the Route 50 project stands. McKinley said he did not recall seeing it on previous lists.

 

“We not only have a volume problem with water, we’ve got a steep problem and (water) goes rushing down through there,” said White over the phone.

 

The city also asked for the Emily Drive intersection with U.S.  Route 50 and Platinum Drive to be addressed along with Route 131. While Fox said she wasn’t sure how to fix the intersection in question, Route 131 was an easier call for her.

 

“We’d like to see the shoulders upgraded, the road repaired, and the lanes widened,” said Fox.

 

Route 131 is a priority for multiple reasons. Along with it being in generally bad shape, traffic has increased significantly on the road since the opening of the Bridgeport Recreation Complex. That volume is expected to increase dramatically with the opening of the multi-million dollar Bridgeport Indoor Sports and Recreation Complex, which will also be located just off Route 131.

 

Another reason is that Route 131  (and Route 50) are the “arterial (roads) into our town,” Fox said. They also serve as the entry ways to the North Central West Virginia Airport. McKinley also believes the airport needs to be a top priority and was listed as one of four areas the city is seeking his assistance on.

 

“What you have with the airport is huge … This is a gem we ought to be building from,” said McKinley, who also called it a “gold mine” for the city and the region.

 

Along with Kerr and Fox, City Council members John Wilson and Don Burton were on hand. They were joined by Bridgeport Development Authority President John Stogran, Thrasher Group’s Chad Biller and resident Amy Hayden.

 

McKinley was joined by Wendy Madden. Madden, a Bridgeport resident, is a field representative for McKinley.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Congressman David McKinley and Field Representative Wendy Madden, while the second photo shows City Engineer Beth Fox, right, showing McKinley issues with Route 50 as Community Development Director Andrea Kerr looks on. In the bottom photo, from left, Council members Johh Wilson and Don Burton are joined by Bridgeport Development Authority President  John Stogran at the meeting.