It is not the busiest intersection in Bridgeport, but it certainly is a problematic one. And thanks to a group of West Virginia University engineering students, it may soon be a former problem.

 

During Monday’s Bridgeport City Council meeting, eight WVU students – part of CE Capstone Project team – presented a recommendation to the city’s governing body to eliminate issues at the intersection of Worthington Avenue and Philadelphia Avenue.

 

Most know the intersection as the Simpson Elementary School intersection. To fix the myriad of issues in play, the group recommended a project costing $662,477 that includes a 10 percent contingency of $51,134.

 

The students presented three alternatives and recommended the one costing the most. It would involve major modifications to the intersection, including significant changes to the massive stone retaining wall at the home on 204 West Philadelphia Avenue.

 

The improvements would include acquiring 2,500 square feet from that home, as well as 600 square feet from the Bridgeport United Methodist Church. From there, lane striping would be done, pedestrian pushbuttons, new signals, sensors for the signals, sight distance improvements, road widening to help with bus turn radius, sidewalk relocation, and more. There would also be a continuous green light on Philadelphia Avenue until sensors would turn the light green on Worthington.

 

City Engineer Beth Fox, who worked with the students along with David Martinelli, Ph.D., of WVU and P.E.’s John H. Hart and Eric Martz, said she would be tasked with bringing back a formal recommendation of the student’s work back to Council. Fox said it was a class project for the semester.

 

As for the time frame, the students said it could be done during the summer months. And they believed their recommended alternative would have limited traffic impacts, with most of it coming on Worthington Drive on the side away from Simpson Elementary.

 

Fox, who was a student under Martinelli, also was a student with Hart and Martz. She said WVU contacted the city about a project and the Simpson one, which was already being discussed, was brought up.

 

“They took a look at it and decided to take a stab at it,” said Fox, who said the intersection is a safety hazard for students, runners, pedestrians, buses, and emergency service vehicles.

 

Fox said the family that owns the house – including the famous lions on the driveway – are agreeable to changes. The lions will have a permanent home along the possible revised retaining wall.

 

Also Monday, Bridgeport may soon be able to operate a zone in restricted airspace and “outside visual range” for public safety purposes. It will be not used for any compensation purposes or for hire but would likely be utilized by the city in areas in an around the North Central West Virginia Airport.

 

Drones, in the city’s case being of the unmanned variety, are not allowed in that area due to Federal Aviation Administration rules. The waiver would allow the city to operate as a public aircraft operator for unmanned drone(s).

 

This is the first step to be taken to be allowed to utilize the zone in FAA-prohibited areas. If given approval, a drone costing up to $25,000 will likely be purchased, according to Emergency Services Director Tim Curry. Curry is hopeful the drone will be able to be paid for by grant funds, but if not, the are funds available, he said.

 

Lang was also given permission by Council by way of resolution to enter into an agreement with the Division of Justice & Community Service for a pair of JAG (Justice Assistance Grant) Grants. One is for $72,000 for the Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force and the other JAG Grant is in the amount of $15,000,

 

The $72,000 will be split between Bridgeport, the City of Clarksburg, and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, all of whom have members on the Task Force. The $15,000 if to help offset a portion of School Resource Officer (SRO) Jamie Hamrick’s salary.

 

Chief Mark Rogers said the Task Force grant has been utilized for 35 years. He believed the SRO grant has been received by the city for the past 16 years.

 

Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that will give city staff a rare mid-year raise. The reason for it, according to documentation to Council from Bridgeport Human Resources Director Jordan Hill, is due to inflation being at “near record levels” and the 12-month consumer price index is at almost 8 percent.

 

The increase for all grades of employees is 4 percent. The cost is $429,400 and will be paid for out of the contingency fund.

 

During closing comments, City Recorder Dr. Harry “Hank” Murray paid tribute to community leader Robert “Bob” Allen who passed away earlier this month. He called Allen “Mr. Bridgeport.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows the Engineering students and those who helped with thie project, while one of the students leads the discussion Monday. Bottom photo shows the tight turn radius buses have to take coming out of the school. Bottom photo show Dr. Harry M. "Hank" Murray.