The temporary fix to what a former West Virginia Division of Highways official called a likely “subsurface failure” to a section of U.S. Route 50 – Main Street – was completed in recent weeks. And on Monday, workers with the DOH finished off the temporary work.

 

Work was done earlier this summer by the DOH to pave the east and west bound lanes of U.S. Route 50 in a roughly 20 x 20 foot section in front of the Bridgeport Dairy Queen. Former District 4 DOH Maintenance Engineer Jeff Pifer said in February that it was likely a temporary fix would be completed before a long-term solution was put in place. And that’s what was done.

 

However, Bridgeport City Council members were recently vocal that the replacement of the pavement in the area did not include the restriping of the crosswalk. The crosswalk, often used by seniors utilizing the Benedum Civic Center from the free municipal parking lot on the eastbound side of Route 50, is often busy during key events.

 

The area is troublesome even though the city has installed warning lights that pedestrians can push to alert motorists that they are going to utilize the crosswalk. Recently, Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker asked motorists to acknowledge the troublesome area.

 

Council members were concerned that even though the flashing lights were still in place, the lack of a painted crosswalk would further the issues with the area. Now, the painted lines are back in place. For several hours Monday afternoon, work crews from the DOH blocked off one lane of traffic and painted the crosswalk and then used torches to dry the paint.

 

Assistant City Manager Jimmy Smith said City Engineer Tom Brown contacted the DOH about getting the lines re-painted. He said he he’s glad to hear that it was completed.

 

“(The DOH) moved rapidly on getting that done after our contact with them,” said Smith. “I’m very pleased with their action and it shows they wanted to work with the city and realized that there were issues with the crosswalk not being painted.”

 

As for a permanent fix, it’s unknown when that will take place. Pifer is no longer with the DOH and officials contacted early Monday morning had not yet returned a phone call seeking the status of a permanent fix. Smith, however, said he’s glad something has been done to the section of roadway that has clearly failing earlier this year.

 

“I think what you’ll probably see is more study done on the area before an attempt is made to make a permanent fix, which makes a lot of sense,” said Smith. “We’re grateful that they have addressed the issues we’ve presented them with and did so in a relatively fast fashion.”

 

Editor's Note: DOH workers put the finishing touches on the newly striped crosswalk between the municipal parking lot and the Dairy Queen on Main Street.