West Virginia DOH cancels Teays Valley road widening, roundabout project
PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. (WCHS) — The West Virginia Division of Highways said it is canceling a proposed road widening and roundabout project in Teays Valley due to divisiveness among residents and business owners.
West Virginia Transportation Secretary Todd Rumbaugh said in a news release Friday the state is scrapping its plans after a series of public meetings that showed a disagreement between local residents, business owners and lawmakers.
“We take seriously our commitment to deliver solutions that solve the identified transportation problem while minimizing impacts to the natural and human environment,” Rumbaugh said in the news release. “After significant coordination efforts over the past year, it became apparent that we will be unable to reach agreement with the local community and other stakeholders on a solution that both solves the transportation problem and is supported by the local community.”
In 2024, the WVDOH was asked to come up with a plan to help alleviate congestion and reduce accidents on Teays Valley Road in Putnam County between Great Teays Boulevard and U.S. 35 intersection.
After a series of public meetings, WVDOH engineers came up with a plan that included proposed lighting improvements, bicycle and pedestrian access, improved drainage and four roundabouts intended to ease traffic flow and cut down on accidents in the corridor.
The plan was attractive to some residents, members of the Regional Intergovernmental County, and some local elected officials, but other officials, business owners and some residents were opposed.
Some local leaders had requested alternatives that used fewer roundabouts, but none of those alternatives addressed the safety and congestion issues that led to the original project request.
“We cannot in good conscience commit state and federal funding to a project that does not solve the problems identified on Teays Valley Road, particularly as it relates to reducing crashes,” Rumbaugh said. “To do so would be an irresponsible use of taxpayers’ money.
“We are therefore redirecting those funds to projects that do significantly improve safety and reduce congestion.”
