West Run Expressway
Interstate 268 | |
|---|---|
| West Run Expressway | |
| Route information | |
| Maintained by WVDOH | |
| NHS | Entire route |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| Highway system | |
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The West Run Expressway is a proposed four-lane expressway that would bypass Morgantown, West Virginia, to the northeast, connecting Interstate 68 (I-68) east of the city at milepost 7 to I-79 north of the city. The western terminus would be somewhere between exit 155 and the West Virginia Welcome Center at milepost 160 along I-79. It would relieve congestion along U.S. Highway 119 (USS 119) and West Virginia Route 705 (WV 705),[1] the latter of which might be relieved with the 705 Connector.[2]
The West Run Expressway was referred to as Interstate 268 according to a Dominion Post article in December 2002,[3][4] however, the accuracy of that may be in doubt. The bypass is being designed not as a controlled-access freeway, but as a limited-access expressway, therefore not up to Interstate Highway standards.
According to the unfunded project index from the West Virginia Department of Transportation, the West Run Expressway was to have preliminary engineering completed in 2007, with right-of-way purchased in 2008.[5]
As of 2012, this project is in limbo as the preferred corridor is now mostly developed with student housing complexes built outside of Morgantown city limits. The WV 705 Connector project is seemingly replacing it for the time being as the Mileground will be reconfigured and widened to a four-lane highway that will alleviate traffic flow. However, the possibility remains that a beltway may be constructed, following Point Marion Road/US 119 to Baker's Ridge and eventually connecting back into the original preferred route near Star City.
References
- ^ "Route". West Run Expressway. West Virginia Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 6, 2006.
- ^ West Virginia Department of Transportation. 705 Connector DRAFT Design Study Report (PDF). Retrieved August 6, 2006.
- ^ "2010 Transportation Plan". Dominion Post. Morgantown. November 16, 2002.
- ^ Spencer, Don (November 16, 2002). "Open Letter to Department of Transportation Don Spencer for Council Campaign". Dominion Post. Morgantown. Retrieved August 7, 2006.
- ^ West Virginia Department of Transportation (June 22, 2005). "Six year highway improvement program - unfunded" (PDF). Retrieved August 7, 2006.