Am i the only one? New Rt 9 Bridge Lament

[MetalMama]

Who ABSOLUTELY hates the new view on 9? The "beautiful" scenery that you folks see now will soon be replaced with a bridge. Then what? I was born and raised here and it just breaks my heart to see that it is changing so drastically. Yeah, i know its progress, i should get used to it. But i cant help but to say, that my heart breaks a little each day i pass through.

[Theresa]

You are not alone! I hate it too. Not only the fact that it is such a drastic change, but I am not a fan of the expansiveness of the view. I've always preferred the little peeks of the view. It was like we all knew what could be seen from there if someone removed all the trees , but no one ever would, right?
Oh well.
Now the glaring lights of the Casino welcome everyone to Jefferson County. i preferred a more gentle introduction.

[catsmom]

I agree and I have only lived here since 95. But 9 is only one example what about all the new houses at the intersection of 9 and 340. Too much development is happening too fast.

[campbell]

You are definitely not alone. I hate this "view" and its only going to get worse. I refuse to even look over at it when I pass by it because it turns my stomach so much.

[longleaf]

Hate it, too.

[Wormdoc]

You're not alone at all. The view is beautiful, granted, but at what cost? Would rather have had the trees.

[Willis]

I'm no fan of the removal of trees, displacement of homes, the bridge that will become a parking lot throughout the day, the tons and tons of earth that are being disturbed and on and on. I'm keeping a record for posterity, though. I think it's important. I don't believe anyone will benefit from the destruction except those who own land across the river where I'm certain this "limited access" highway's limited access points have been planned for years.

I may be wrong and I'll be the first to admit it, but I see very little benefit to us on the mountain with the exception of a decrease in traffic thru the curves in Mannings. I foresee little change in traffic on the north side of what will become old Rt 9 (rt 115?). We'll still be isolated (maybe more so depending on our access on and off the new bridge) with only three or four ways off the mountain in case of emergencies.

[cbuck725wv]

i really love the view.so pretty .to bad it was not done sooner.

[Neophyte Man]

Who ABSOLUTELY hates the new view on 9?
I saw it for the first time yesterday,I never go that way. When I was coming from Virginia first thing I said to self was WOW !! I like the view. I did not like the bare soil when I saw that. I don't know what it will look like when it is finished.
to bad it was not done sooner
I have to say the same thing.
We'll still be isolated
which is a good thing.
I was born and raised here and it just breaks my heart to see that it is changing so drastically.
I understand what you are saying. I feel the same about where I was born and bred. My people were fine until the new settlers came in and raped the land. I do like the view however.

[lar]

I guess I reserve my opinion. I am not totally against it, and I love the view, but it will not benefit me because I am not going to go that way to get on the road to Martinsburg and it doesn't help me get to work. I am more interested in the completion of the part from Leetown to Martinsburg. Unfortunately its only going to make the traffic worse on the already cramped Rt. 9 to Leesburg and I feel more people from the far parts of Jefferson and Martinsburg may consider going to Virginia to work now. (maybe this is more appropriate in the other thread)

[waveydavey]

Do they plan on putting a ski jump at the bottom? For the yearly Shenandoah winter games of course.. :)
I think it will be great to see how far cars can fly when the bridge ices up.

nice view.. only concern is how they tie in existing rt 9 at top of mountain.

[RockCity]

Yup, it sucks. When you round the curve just over the border, it feels like you are going to fall off into the abyss. What a waste! So much for wild and wonderful, now its naked and violated!

[KatherineA]

Yup, it sucks. When you round the curve just over the border, it feels like you are going to fall off into the abyss.

It totally feels like that to me. Freaks me out every day - doesn't matter which way I am going to VA or to WV.

[Library Lady]

And think of all the animals that have lost their homes. I cringe every day when I go by. It won't benefit me either, since I don't go that way to work. Will there even be a ramp to get on from Hostler? Perhaps widening 340 to VA would have been a better way to spend our money?

[Willis]

Will there even be a ramp to get on from Hostler?
Every one of the "Half-Fast" plans I've seen shows the bridge deck a good distance Above Hostler Rd. Don't expect any entry there. Any on/off ramps will be at Keyes Gap, if any are provided at all.

[MetalMama]

I'm glad to see im not the only one with these feelings. I live very close to the 3 churches where all of the mess is taking place. I hear blast after blast each day. And when nighttime falls, you still hear workers down there. What once was a nice isolated QUIET area, has turned quickly. And all this BEFORE the howl of cars speeding down the bridge. Whatta mess! What concerns me further, as Library lady pointed out is the animals loosing their homes. Just think of all of the copperheads that has been disturbed!!! I used to see at least 5 deer in my yard each night, but of course they are no longer here either.

[Kensey]

Perhaps widening 340 to VA would have been a better way to spend our money?

Drop to the river on one side, steep mountain slope on the other -- I'm not sure 340 is any better a candidate. And Virginia will probably widen 9 before they'll widen their part of 340.

[Chutney Daftcraft]

They've already widened their part of 340... Unless you're talking about the 340 heading into Maryland...

[Starbuck]

I believe Kensey is referring to 340 from Harpers Ferry into MD...Perhaps MD and WV should investigate re-routing 340, four lanes and cutting VA out completely.

Back to topic...I received an email from a work colleague this week asking me what was up with the "devastating deforestation" and "rape of the land." She believed it was for a housing development. When I told her it was for the new road, it didn't change her opinion. In fact, more people I know dislike the view than like it.

[Kensey]

Perhaps MD and WV should investigate re-routing 340, four lanes and cutting VA out completely.

NPS would never let 340 come ashore in the park portion of the WV side, but I could see it continuing west and making the jump at, say, Bakerton Rd. I wonder if AASHTO would go for it though...

[Willis]

From the Park's perspective, the Loudoun Heights cliff face acts as a giant sounding board. The only feasible way to widen the existing route would be additional elevated lanes next to the river. Even the feeble sound barrier afforded by the Paulownia trees would then be gone. When 18 Wheelers roar thru now, you can't hear yourself talk on Shenandoah St. it would be measurably worse if that option were executed. Of course, maybe the designers of the bridge to nowhere could also design one from the first/last exit off Rt 340 in Washington Co., over Maryland Heights and Harpers Ferry to land by the Cliffside Inn. it would be yet another man made tourist attraction for our neighborhood

[derricksonb]

I actually love the new view and can't wait to see the design for the new bridge. This bridge and new four lane highway from VA to Martinsburg represents the progress many of us have expected for years and opens up the potential for increased business relocation to the panhandle and more career opportunities. Not only is there an economic benefit to the new bridge it also has the potential of lessening the burden on our all volunteer EMS by reducing the number of novice tourist drivers on dangerous curvy sections of existing Route 9 through Mannings and kabletown.



.....The only feasible way to widen the existing route would be additional elevated lanes next to the river.

I've actually been giving this some thought as of late and elevated lanes would be an option, but I'd fear that they would become a hazard to the potential Darwin Award nominees who like to kayak the river during floods. A similar solution to widening the road to four lanes (five to include a turn lane for Chestnut Hill) would be the construction of a sea wall and massive back filling. The downside to this would be the loss of recreation area along that section of river.

[Starbuck]

I don't really see why adding a 4.5 mile stretch of four-lane highway from the VA line to Charles Town opens us up for business...because those potential CEOs and such from VA STILL have to take the two-lane Rt. 9 to get here, which seemingly does nothing but become more crowded by the day.

I heard recently that the new hill into Charles Town was going to have a 9% grade on it. Anyone else hear anything like this? Because if so, that'll be so fun to watch in the wintertime.

[StickonFreeze]

I actually love the new view and can't wait to see the design for the new bridge. This bridge and new four lane highway from VA to Martinsburg represents the progress many of us have expected for years and opens up the potential for increased business relocation to the panhandle and more career opportunities. Not only is there an economic benefit to the new bridge it also has the potential of lessening the burden on our all volunteer EMS by reducing the number of novice tourist drivers on dangerous curvy sections of existing Route 9 through Mannings and kabletown.




I've actually been giving this some thought as of late and elevated lanes would be an option, but I'd fear that they would become a hazard to the potential Darwin Award nominees who like to kayak the river during floods. A similar solution to widening the road to four lanes (five to include a turn lane for Chestnut Hill) would be the construction of a sea wall and massive back filling. The downside to this would be the loss of recreation area along that section of river.

The new road will save accidents and lives.

[StickonFreeze]

I don't really see why adding a 4.5 mile stretch of four-lane highway from the VA line to Charles Town opens us up for business...because those potential CEOs and such from VA STILL have to take the two-lane Rt. 9 to get here, which seemingly does nothing but become more crowded by the day.

I heard recently that the new hill into Charles Town was going to have a 9% grade on it. Anyone else hear anything like this? Because if so, that'll be so fun to watch in the wintertime.

It eliminates the most dangerous part of the road. Rt. 9 through Mannings simply HAD to be replaced, it was never intended to be what it has become.