The email came earlier this week requesting representatives from the City of Bridgeport, and in particular the Parks and Recreation Department, to be on hand Tuesday at the State Capital in Charleston and be guests of Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.

 

The purpose of the gathering was to formally receive what is now being called The Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails Grant programs. Ironically, when the city was first awarded the grant in 2013, it was called a Transportation Enhancement Act grant.

 

In 2013, Bridgeport received an award of $200,000 that included the city’s 20 percent match, to do a major expansion of the walking trail. As it turned out, that grant that was awarded wasn’t nearly enough to do the project that was requested.

 

“When we were awarded that grant several years ago we met with the DOT and it became apparent real quick that the amount we requested would cover a third at worst and one half at best of what we were trying to accomplish,” said Bridgeport Community Development Director Randy Spellman. “There wasn’t much action on it until a little more than a year ago when I was contacted from Charleston and asked to submit another intent to apply request to perhaps get more money.”

 

The goal was to be able to complete a new and substantial phase of Bridgeport’s walking trail. The trail for the grant would cover approximately 1,960 feet in length and connect existing sidewalks. The connection would take place by way of a pedestrian crosswalk near Foley Street and then go to the West Side of West Virginia Route 58.The west side of State 58 will then connect the intersection of State 58 and Brushy Fork Road. A second pedestrian crosswalk will be near the Burnside Car Wash. This crosswalk will connect directly to the new Deegan Lake Walking Trail.

 

As it turned out, $200,000 wasn’t nearly enough to cover it. That led to the call from Charleston and Spellman subsequently calling Joe Shuttleworth, the deputy director for Bridgeport P&R. Shuttleworth wrote the original grant and wrote the revision and moved it forward.

 

Until Monday, there was no word on whether the city was awarded anything. All that was asked was that the city attend and Spellman, Shuttleworth and Parks Director Don Burton made the trip for the presentation on behalf of the city.

 

“We were anticipating getting a little bit more, but had no idea how much,” said Burton. “Needless to say, it turned out better than any of us expected.”

 

Bridgeport was one of 54 community and infrastructure projects across the state that received funding Monday.  More than $7 million was awarded under the federal program administered by the State DOT.

 

Here’s the big news. Of the 54 community grants awarded, Bridgeport received more than any other applicant. In fact, Bridgeport received $560,000 – nearly three times the original grant more than three years ago.

 

“I was pleasantly surprised; I think we all were,” said Spellman. “We’re appreciative of the state’s effort to allow us to fund this project fully.”

 

Burton said barring something unforeseen that this amount of funding should cover all the costs. He said, like Spellman, he had no idea of the amount being announced. At the same time, he said he was “pleased beyond belief” when the announcement was made.

 

“We have no complaints,” Burton said with a smile. “We’re actually close to 10 percent of the total funding that was awarded.”

 

With the funding just being announced, there was no timeline for construction, bidding or design work. Stay tuned to Connect-Bridgeport for more details as they develop on this project along South Virginia Avenue and State Route 58.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows, from left, Joe Shuttleworth, Don Burton, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and Randy Spellman. Bottom photo shows the existing lakes trail that the new trail will eventually tie into.