During Thursday’s meeting of the Bridgeport Utility Board, City Engineer Beth Fox updated the group on several projects completed, in the works or being considered. One of those projects, which has drawn plenty of public comment and some scrutiny as well, is the recent paving of U.S. Route 50.

 

Fox told those gathered that the infrastructure work, both water and sewer, along the Main Street corridor is complete. And the first phase of a two-phased paving project involving the city and the state is also complete.

 

“All the testing on the water and sewer lines came back good and we’ve had no complaints as far as that goes,” said Fox. “With the initial lift and paving there are a few areas where you can fill the crossings, but that should be alleviated once the state comes in.”

 

The state has long planned to come in and finish the project, which was reported on Connect-Bridgeport in April. At that time, DOH Construction Engineer Jason Nelson explained that the state would finish out the project in 2018.

 

“It may not be a completely smooth ride until next summer, but it’s much better than it was,” Fox told the BUB members. 

 

The city opted to put a coat of asphalt down after doing the infrastructure work. Fox said that due to Route 50 being a state road, the city was not required to do that. Bridgeport approved a contract with JF Allen for just over $155,000 to do the paving from Center Street to just prior to Main Street’s intersection with State Route 131.

 

“We thought it would be best to put a lift (coat of asphalt) down prior to their project,” said Fox.

 

The state’s project will be much larger in scope. Fox, as well as Nelson, said the paving will begin on Main Street at its intersection with Virginia Avenue and continue all the way to State Route 76, which is just prior to Reep Graphics.

 

“They are looking at a half inch microseal,” said Fox of the paving the WVDOH will contract out. “It’s a new mix the state has been using.”

 

Fox said once the state project is finished motorists should feel a solid ride. She said it’s already much better than what the roadway looked like after the infrastructure work and it’s even better than how the road appeared – and could be driven on – prior to the water and sewer line work through  the downtown.

 

“I’m not sure the public remembers, and most wouldn’t, how bad of shape the road was in leading up to that work,” said Fox. “The good news is that there is a solid subbase under there … What’s there is absolutely better than leaving it as it was with the winter months just ahead.”

 

More from this meeting in the future on Connect-Bridgeport.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows where the paving project began near the Main Street intersection with Center Street.