HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 48
(By Delegate Susman)
Requesting the Division of Highways, in cooperation with the West
Virginia University Institute for the History of Technology
and Industrial Archeology and the Smithsonian Institution to
conduct a study to determine the status and costs of
reconstruction of unrestored covered bridges.
Whereas,
The Legislature of the State of West Virginia supports
tourism and historical and cultural development to protect certain
of its historical assets; and
Whereas, The Legislature is sensitive to the preservation of
particular assets including wooden covered bridges; and
Whereas, The Division of Highways is aware that there are
seventeen covered bridges located in this State of which three
bridges have been restored, two are under construction, one is
being prepared for construction bidding, and eleven others have the
restoration plans completed or are in the process of having those
plans completed; and
Whereas, It is the intent of the Legislature to urge the ent of
Division Highways in cooperation with West Virginia University
Institute for the History of Technology and Industrial Archeology and the Smithsonian Institution to conduct a study to determine the
status of the restoration program, costs to complete the program;
and the availability of funds for restoration; and
Whereas, The Legislature requests that the appropriate local,
state and federal governments assist by providing available
information for this program; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways, West Virginia University
Institute for History and Technology and Industrial Archeology, the
Smithsonian Institution and relevant local, state and federal
agencies are urged to cooperate to develop a program including
analysis of costs for the completion of the reconstruction of the
four West Virginia wooden covered bridges not yet restored; and, be
it
Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of Highways is
requested to report to the Legislature, by a report sent to the
Legislative Librarian by the end of the year two thousand, the
status of all the state's covered bridges, the results of the
cooperative effort requested herein including costs required for
remaining restoration or preservation, known available sources of
funding, and drafts of any legislation necessary to facilitate the
restoration or preservation of the bridges; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is
instructed to send copies of this resolution to the Commissioner of Highways, the President of West Virginia University, and to
appropriate persons in the West Virginia University Institute for
History and Technology and Industrial Archeology and the
Smithsonian Institution.