Road Construction

‘Tis the season for road construction, and motorists in the Eastern Panhandle likely will encounter more than a few state highway improvement projects as summer arrives, including some already well under way, according to state transportation officials. Work continues on building a new four-lane route for W.Va. 9 from Charles Town, W.Va., to the Virginia line as well as the Raleigh Street Extension project in Martinsburg, while other smaller projects are also on tap, officials said.

As part of the Robinwood Drive Improvements Project, the Washington County Division of Public Works Engineering and Construction Department announced the temporary construction of a dual-lane exit road this week. The work will take place in the existing median at the Hagerstown Community College entrance between Robinwood Drive and Scholar Drive, the county said in a news release. The temporary road will allow dual-lane inbound and outbound access to and from HCC while roadway improvements are made on both sides of Academic Boulevard, the release said.

A project to upgrade the intersection of Massey Boulevard and Halfway Boulevard near Hagerstown is continuing. Rob Slocum, deputy director of public works for Washington County, said Friday the plan is to expand both roads. “We plan to add lanes each way, including a left- and right-turn lane in every direction,” he said. As a result of the project, only one lane of Massey Boulevard is open in each direction, sometimes causing traffic to move slowly. The work is scheduled to be completed just before Thanksgiving.

HAGERSTOWN A Hagerstown City Council member said the city should delay building a road from Eastern Boulevard at the YMCA to Marsh Pike until thoroughfare improvements are made farther south. Councilman Martin Brubaker said it doesn't make sense to build the $5.87 million road until the city widens Eastern Boulevard to four lanes from the YMCA south to Md. 64, a proposal that has not been discussed at length. If the city widens that section of the road first, he said it would connect Eastern Boulevard to a four-lane widening project that the city is planning from Md. 64 to Conrad Court.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. -- After nearly a year of fighting through construction traffic on Baltimore Street in Greencastle, area motorists are either taking the side streets or avoiding the town completely. "I have not taken Baltimore Street in I don't know how long," Elayna Statler said. "If I didn't have to come (downtown) for work, I'd avoid it completely. " The Borough of Greencastle began tearing up Baltimore Street in October 2008, replacing gas and water main lines to prepare the heavily traveled state road for a new surface that will be put down later this year.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A "perfect storm" of inflating construction costs and a leveling of revenues traditionally earmarked for road construction in West Virginia in recent years has helped bring together a large coalition of business and community leaders to urge state leaders to develop lasting solutions. On Monday, West Virginians for Better Transportation, a statewide group of more than 120 organizations and companies, brought its "Keep West Virginia Moving" public information campaign to Martinsburg as part of an education outreach effort that has included stops in the West Virginia cities of Charleston, Beckley and Morgantown.

Work crews will begin road construction at the intersection of Eastern and Jefferson boulevards at 7 a.m. Wednesday. Consequently, the eastbound right-turn lane from Jefferson Boulevard onto Eastern Boulevard will be closed. Vehicles traveling east on Jefferson Boulevard might be able to turn right at Eastern Boulevard, but it will be difficult for larger vehicles, such as trucks or busses, to make the turn. Motorists who want to turn right onto Eastern Boulevard should consider alternate routes away from the construction zone.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The Martinsburg Planning Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved a developer's site plan application to construct an 11-building, 156-apartment complex west of Interstate 81 off Delmar Orchard Road. The decision in favor of the Lee Trace Apartment Complex at 2407 Delmar Orchard Road came with the Commission's contingencies that the developer, J.A. Loveless Companies, address slight modifications to address handicapped accessibility, stormwater management and commit to road construction in concert with anticipated commercial development nearby.

Construction at the intersection of Queen and King streets in Martinsubrg is on schedule to be completed by Bike Night two weeks from today when hundreds of motorcyclists stream into downtown, officials said Friday. Even if the intersection isn't reopened to traffic by then, Main Street Martinsburg Executive Director Randy Lewis said an alternative route to bring the bikes into town has been devised for the charitable event, which benefits Hospice of the Panhandle. Kenneth L. Clohan, area construction engineer for the state Division of Highways, said the project appears to be on schedule.

Singers to perform at John Wesley Don't let the road construction in the area detour you from joining Ken Stoops, organist/director of music, and the John Wesley United Methodist Church this Sunday at their Camp Meeting, which will begin at 10 a.m. Alicia Nunez, who is a voice major and sophomore at Shepherd University and sings lead soprano at John Wesley, will sing, "Heart of Worship" by Michael W. Smith and "You Are Mine" by David...

As part of the Robinwood Drive Improvements Project, the Washington County Division of Public Works Engineering and Construction Department announced the temporary construction of a dual-lane exit road this week. The work will take place in the existing median at the Hagerstown Community College entrance between Robinwood Drive and Scholar Drive, the county said in a news release. The temporary road will allow dual-lane inbound and outbound access to and from HCC while roadway improvements are made on both sides of Academic Boulevard, the release said.

Spring has sprung even if it isn't as warm or as moist as we often think of spring. However, as weather goes in the spring here in the Great Valley, if you don't like today's weather, stick around, because tomorrow's will be different. Spring on the farm is full of new beginnings. Calves, lambs and kids are born and chicks hatch. The renewing of the land begins, as well as the wheat, rye, barley and pastures green up. Spring also comes with lots of activity and smells. There is the smell of freshly turned soil, and of course, the smell of manure.

Construction at the intersection of Queen and King streets in Martinsubrg is on schedule to be completed by Bike Night two weeks from today when hundreds of motorcyclists stream into downtown, officials said Friday. Even if the intersection isn't reopened to traffic by then, Main Street Martinsburg Executive Director Randy Lewis said an alternative route to bring the bikes into town has been devised for the charitable event, which benefits Hospice of the Panhandle. Kenneth L. Clohan, area construction engineer for the state Division of Highways, said the project appears to be on schedule.

‘Tis the season for road construction, and motorists in the Eastern Panhandle likely will encounter more than a few state highway improvement projects as summer arrives, including some already well under way, according to state transportation officials. Work continues on building a new four-lane route for W.Va. 9 from Charles Town, W.Va., to the Virginia line as well as the Raleigh Street Extension project in Martinsburg, while other smaller projects are also on tap, officials said.

A project to upgrade the intersection of Massey Boulevard and Halfway Boulevard near Hagerstown is continuing. Rob Slocum, deputy director of public works for Washington County, said Friday the plan is to expand both roads. “We plan to add lanes each way, including a left- and right-turn lane in every direction,” he said. As a result of the project, only one lane of Massey Boulevard is open in each direction, sometimes causing traffic to move slowly. The work is scheduled to be completed just before Thanksgiving.

Economy suffers while we pour money into war To the editor: President Obama's West Point speech designed to clarify his Afghanistan war policy should make all Americans shudder with fear because of its goal to "strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan security forces and its government. " Surely, our president must realize the price he is asking our soldiers to pay and our taxpayers to fund with such grandiose goals. First, 849 Americans have been killed along with hundreds injured in this nine-year struggle.

HAGERSTOWN -- A group of parents with children in Washington County Public Schools say they will appeal the Washington County Board of Education's decision Tuesday to approve the construction of Eastern Primary School on the east end of Hagerstown. Dottie Gruhler, who has two children at Old Forge Elementary School, said after the board meeting that parents who oppose Eastern Primary would file an appeal with the Maryland Attorney General's Office. She said if that doesn't work, they might take their fight to court.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. -- After nearly a year of fighting through construction traffic on Baltimore Street in Greencastle, area motorists are either taking the side streets or avoiding the town completely. "I have not taken Baltimore Street in I don't know how long," Elayna Statler said. "If I didn't have to come (downtown) for work, I'd avoid it completely. " The Borough of Greencastle began tearing up Baltimore Street in October 2008, replacing gas and water main lines to prepare the heavily traveled state road for a new surface that will be put down later this year.

HAGERSTOWN -- The road construction on Jonathan Street probably will continue in March, City Engineer Rodney Tissue told the City Council on Tuesday. Tissue said the city received bids from seven new contractors to finish the project, which was delayed last year after workers discovered an unusually large concentration of subsurface rock. In early January, the city severed ties with the original contractor - Ardent Co. of McLean, Va. - because the company couldn't finish the work within the $3.7 million estimate.

HAGERSTOWN -- The City of Hagerstown will seek a new contractor to finish the road construction on Jonathan Street. The Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday agreed to give City Engineer Rodney Tissue permission to rebid the project, which was estimated to cost about $3.7 million. The project includes replacing the subsurface sewer line and the reconstruction of the street, curb and sidewalk. Tissue said construction hit a snag last year when workers discovered the sewer line under Jonathan Street was encased in a bedrock tunnel, rather than an easily accessible trench.