ROAD WORK DISCUSSED — Brooke County commissioners learned Tuesday a section of state Route 27, also known as Washington Pike, will be paved this year after complaints were voiced by them and many citizens. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — Brooke County commissioners learned Tuesday a section of state Route 27 will be paved, after they and many citizens voiced complaints about the state road’s condition.

State Del. Jimmy Willis, R-Brooke, shared the news with the commissioners after he and other legislators met with state Secretary of Transportation Todd Rumbaugh and other state highway officials to discuss the condition of the road and others in the Northern Panhandle.

Willis said about 3.9 miles of Route 27, also known as Washington Pike, will be paved, beginning at its intersection with state Route 2, and the state is expected to advertise for a contractor soon.

He said also scheduled for paving this year is state Route 2 between 12th Street in Wellsburg and the recently paved area near the Wellsburg Bridge.

Commission President A.J. Thomas said Route 27 had been scheduled for re-paving more than five years ago and asked why it wasn’t.

Willis said that’s not clear, but he’s very optimistic about the maintenance of area roads under new transportation officials appointed by Governor Patrick Morrisey.

“The new administration seems to be very hands-on and wanting to get things done,” he said, adding it seems to him Rumbaugh wants to streamline operations and ensure issues are addressed promptly.

Thomas again stressed the state’s funding formula for district transportation offices needs to be changed.

Last week, he said the formula is based on the number of miles of state roadways in a county and not the number of miles on which they are traveled.

Thomas said Brooke County roads are traveled by many heavy trucks bound for local industries and natural gas operations.

The commissioners are slated to meet with state transportation officials to discuss the matter in the near future.

In related business, Greg Moore, the county’s emergency management director, reflected on the tractor trailer that sped down Route 27 on Friday morning and through Wellsburg streets before crashing into the Ohio River.

Wellsburg Police have said failed brakes likely were the cause of the crash, which led to the death of the truck’s driver, 62-year-old Gerald Davis Jr.

They confirmed Davis was pronounced dead at the scene.

Moore said, “Unfortunately one person lost his life, but I think he saved multiple people by doing what he did.”

He said as the truck traveled through intersections on Route 2 and Charles and Main streets, the driver managed not to strike buildings or vehicles in his path before veering into the river ahead of him.

He said though the incident had a tragic end, he appreciated the efforts of the many personnel from emergency departments from within and outside Brooke County, including about a dozen divers.

Last week, the commission heard from resident Joan Simonetti, who also complained about the condition of U.S. Route 22.

She expressed concern about its impact on future economic development.

The commissioners agreed to convey such concerns to state officials while encouraging residents to lodge complaints through the West Virginia Division of Highway’s website at webapps.transportation.wv.gov/swat/

In other business, the commission adopted a resolution declaring September Brooke County Goes Purple Month in observance of National Recovery Month.

The move was made at the request of the Hope Dealer Project, a nonprofit organization in Martinsburg, to encourage support for people recovering from drug abuse.

Attending on the group’s behalf was Janna Gordon, executive director of the Brooke-Hancock Family Resource Network, who said the Weirton-based organization will provide purple ribbons residents may display to show their support.

County Clerk Kimberly Barbetta said a common complaint she’s heard is there are few drug addiction treatment facilities available in this region, suggesting more funding should be made for them.

Gordon said there are various reasons for drug addiction, and related agencies need more assistance to address those to prevent future drug abuse.

The commission also heard from Duane Heck, who represents the county on the West Virginia Route 2 and Interstate 68 Authority, a volunteer board formed to promote the expansion of the two highways.

Heck asked the commission to adopt a resolution supporting the development of a proposed I-68 Energy-Manufacturing Corridor.

The proposal involves the construction of highway from Interstate Route 79 near Morgantown to state Route 2 near Kent, W.Va. across the Ohio River to Clarington, Ohio and on to Interstate Route 77 near Caldwell, Ohio, ultimately linking with Interstate Route 77 between Dayton and Middletown.

It’s intended to attract manufacturing and energy-related businesses and jobs to Ohio and West Virginia.