Dozens of people turned out at the Putnam County Commission’s Transportation Committee meeting to share opinions on the proposed Teays Valley Road widening project. The stretch of Teays Valley Road that is set to be widened spans from Apple Lane at the Anna’s Alterations building to the Kroger intersection, where Teays Valley Road and Great Teays Bolevard meet. Those who live along that stretch in the Scott Depot raised concerns about businesses that would have to relocate, including Dairy Queen.
The West Virginia Division of Highways is proposing four roundabouts, which no residents were in favor of at the meeting. Option one would take the road to 66 feet wide and add a two-way left turn lane, a bike lane and a sidewalk. The preferred option from DOH, which is the more controversial one for the public, is option two, that would widen the road to 61 feet with a landscaping median in the middle, and add a bike lane and a sidewalk. This plan would also include four roundabouts in the one-mile stretch. The online public comment period for the project recently wrapped up. Eyewitness News said representatives from the DOH will go through the comments and then meet with the Federal Highway Administration to come up with a plan to move forward.