HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 24

(By Delegates Givens, Ennis, Davis and Pettit)




Requesting the West Virginia Department of Transportation to construct a new bridge across the Ohio River from Brooke County, West Virginia, to Jefferson County, Ohio.

Whereas, The condition of the Fort Steuben and Market Street bridges are in constant need of repair; and
Whereas, The closing of either bridge, either temporarily or permanently, would cause economic devastation to the entire northern panhandle of West Virginia; and
Whereas,
Transportation plans for the metropolitan area of Brooke and Hancock Counties in West Virginia, and Jefferson County, Ohio, call for the need of a new bridge, spanning the Ohio River in Brooke County, West Virginia; and
Whereas,
The construction of a new Ohio River bridge in Brooke County would promote residential and business growth, as well as provide new job markets for the area; and
Whereas,
The Brooke County Commission, along with the city councils of both Wellsburg and Follansbee, support the construction of a new Ohio River bridge in Brooke County; and
Whereas,
The Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission, supports the construction of a new Ohio River bridge in Brooke County; and
Whereas,
The West Virginia Department of Transportation and the Ohio Department of Transportation have jointly recognized the need for a new bridge in this area, and initiated a study to define the need; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the West Virginia Department of Transportation to construct a new bridge crossing the Ohio River in Brooke County, West Virginia, to Jefferson County, Ohio; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Transportation.