Road Closure Causes Mass Confussion
by Smartalix (Subscribe)
Posted on: Jul 3, 2008 at 3:50 PM EDT
Channel: Local News
Location: Bridgeport, Harrison County
Since the closure of both East and West bound lanes along Route 50, motorists are still having difficulty understanding the signs that were posted by the WV DOH. The signs are clearly marked, "ROAD CLOSED", "DEAD END" and "DETOUR" and the signs are posted miles before the actual closure on Route 50. Motorists are ignoring these signs and are still clamoring up into the Crystal Ridge development looking to by-pass the closure.
Back in March of 2008, when the WV DOH closed Route 50, they placed the "ROAD CLOSED" signs directly in front of the two entrances of Crystal Ridge. This directed all motorists, which ignored the posted detour signs, into the Crystal Ridge community. As many as 1,600 vehicles per day were driving through Crystal Ridge and many of them were ignoring the posted speed limit of 15 MPH. The residents of Crystal Ridge felt that this was an extremely dangerous situation and asked the City of Bridgeport to close the access off to all motorists, including themselves, until Route 50 was re-opened.
At this point, motorists are still ignoring the posted warnings and continue to drive through the development looking for a "by-pass". Motorists are even driving through the barricade and signage that the WV DOH put up that closes Route 50. Daily, residents of Crystal Ridge witness cars, trucks and motorcyclists driving through the construction site on Route 50. A resident in Crystal Ridge stated, "I'd rather see these people drive through the construction zone on Route 50 than have them drive through our neighborhood. Why would I want someone driving though here when they completely ignore their own safety. They'll drive though a posted closed road where there are 3 foot wide cracks and 4 foot deep holes... why would I want them driving through my community? They don't have any respect for themselves, why would they respect me, my children or my property?"
The barricade that was installed in Crystal Ridge by the City of Bridgeport is temporary and will be removed once construction is completed on Route 50. Not even the residents of Crystal Ridge have access through this barricade. They are just as inconvenienced by the detour and construction on Route 50 as any other person that travels that route. More-so in that their community is being blamed like they're the ones that caused the slip. When in fact, there were multiple reasons for the cause of the slip. An over abundance of wet weather this past winter and spring, a water main break that occurred under Route 50, poor road maintenance by the WV DOH and poor water containment by the developers.
Motorists should read the warning signs and follow them to the appropriate detours designated by the WVDOH. The WV State Police and the Bridgeport Police Department can ticket any motorist that is caught driving through any barricade system.
This issue has already been covered. It's private now, city owned later and the state doesn't maintain any of it. Do you live in Bridgeport? If not, you do not pay taxes for Bridgeport services. USE THE DETOUR like the rest of us.
you know this person who replied to d davis like that needs a good ole lesson in respect i guess when your born with a silver spoon in your mouth it has to come out somewhere
more than likely people are driving through CR looking to buy a house there (Ha Ha). If they aren't then it may just be a way of protesting the power of a few to inconvienance the masses. Even 2 miles out of the way is extreme w/ $4.00/gal gas.
In regards to the residents of CR being inconvenienced by their "plea" to the CIty of Bridgeport, I feel very confident in saying that many, if not all, of them work, play, and shop in B-port and that very few of them travel east on Rt. 50.
I travel east on Rt 50 several times a week.It takes more time and gas to take the detour. What if there was an emergency at the herritage or the development behind CR? Also, I have never seen more than 2-3 cars at a time in the development.
If I can recollect, this is the same area of road that has continued to sink/fall in since back in the l970s. The State Road was always trying to "re-inforce" the hillside and constantly patching the road.
It is sad that all of you folks are acting so immature. First, you are blaming even gas prices (taking a detour) on the residents of CR. That is our national government. Next, you are making nasty remarks about the children of this community.
The children were safe at one time and how do they understand the drastic change all of a sudden? This problem sounds like violence could occur. Residents arming themselves? People running into the yards and cursing people?
No one is blaming high gas prices on CR, that would be foolish, we are blaming CR on causing everyone to spend more on gas by going out of our way
I would travel eastbound on US50 every day if it were not closed. As it is, I have to take the detour. The only people for whom the detour is more extreme are those that live or work in/near Maple Lake. US50 will get fixed, just be patient.
"Two miles is extreme", so lets drive EXTRA to "protest" the inconvenience? Wow, CR should install a gas station on the road and milk that intelligence!
I don't have travel east on 50 very far. I bought a home in Bridgeport cause I could afford to live closer to town. As for gas prices, take the bus if you can't afford to drive. The detour is only 1.2 miles long...wow, that's costly.
You WILL save gas by using the detour. You use more fuel by driving all the way up into CR to see if you can drive thru the barricade. When you see you can't, you have to drive all the way back to the detour that you should have used in the 1st place
You need more proof that CRers are elitist, well to do snobs? Apparently Smartalix has nothing else to do but harass motorists and write this propoganda. I think Smartalix should GET A JOB!
Smartalix, two posts on the same topic? What is your goal here? You expect to inspire sympathy for the CRers with your subtlely angry and preachy tone? Unlikely. And this is certainly not news. News typically has some level of objectivity.
"News typically has some level of objectivity." Clearly you have not paid any attention to the news lately.
How long is it going to take before this main highway is repaired and reopened???
"News typically has some level of objectivity." is difficult to argue with. "Clearly you have not paid any attention to the news lately" was a failed attempt. I am/we are getting off topic.
That's a good question. When is Rt. 50 going to be open. Does any one from the DoH or elitist CR or B-port read this and knows the answer? If so, please tell the inquiring public as to when U.S. Rt. 50 will be returned to normal.
"Before Thanksgiving" was the answer a couple of weeks ago on WBOY-12.
They are working on it now and theoretically have until November to finish.
Route 50 is open now... to those people who ignore the "ROAD CLOSED" signs. All evening and all night... they just drive right around the signs and drive thru the construction. I guess that's better then them driving thru our yards again.
People from CR should have their video cameras ready for the people driving through the Rt. 50 construction. How cool would it be for this mess to produce a Darwin Award winner?
d davis says ...
On Thursday, Jul 3 at 9:11 PM
i would like to know if that community is serviced by the state road and if so then how can they complain about people driving through there i pay taxes and dont feel it right that if the state road takes care of the road have full control of traffic