TEAYS VALLEY, W.Va. (WCHS) — The Teays Valley Road project has officially been cancelled, but many are wondering what's next to alleviate traffic, congestion and accidents.

Makenzie White is an officer with the Hurricane Police Department and she said she's responded to more accident calls on Teays Valley Road than she can count.

"I'm for whatever makes traffic flow better and less accidents," White said. "Making more lanes would probably be helpful, but the construction of it would be no fun and make traffic just as bad, if not worse."

She said with ongoing construction on sidewalks and power poles throughout the area, the traffic has been overwhelming for everyone in the area.

West Virginia Department of Highways spokesperson Brent Walker said the project would have been paid for by Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds. There are restrictions for using that money.

"We made the decision that we would cancel that project and use those monies that can only be used for that criteria," Walker said. "Congestion and safety types of projects in other areas. In the transportation world we're short on dollars but long on projects."

Walker said the alternatives brought to the table by community leaders and community members often included more traffic signals and less or no roundabouts at all. He said those did not meet the need and the purpose of the overall project.

"Could we have continued that route, it would have been years," he said. "It would have been years to continue to discuss the type of permitting that would have been required."

White said if you're driving on Teays Valley Road, be cautious and patient because an accident will hold up traffic longer.

"During school hours, and then obviously from 4-6 p.m., maybe 4-7 p.m., just leave earlier than you think you need to, and try to have some patience," she said. "It's hard, I know, because I have to experience it as well, but you're not going to get anywhere, and getting mad and possibly causing an accident isn't gonna help anybody."

Walker said the DOH will continue to maintain Teays Valley Road but until funds become available, no changes will be made. He said they will use the CMAX funding for other congestion projects around the state.