HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 55
(By Delegates Ashley, Facemyer,
Stemple, Stalnaker and Boggs)
Requesting the West Virginia Department of Transportation,
Division of Highways, to conduct a study of the feasibility
of upgrading U.S. Route Thirty-three between Ripley and
Weston to a modern highway.
Whereas, Interstate 77 and Interstate 79 are the two main
arterial north-south highways serving western-central West
Virginia; and
Whereas, There presently exists only one highway traveling
east and west which serves as a feeder road to connect I-79 and
I-77, providing access to the said two interstate highways
for the counties of Jackson, Roane, Calhoun, Gilmer and Lewis,
to-wit: U.S. Route 33, intersecting I-77 at Ripley, eastbound
and intersecting I-79 at Weston; and
Whereas, The section of U.S. Route 33 through these counties
is a narrow, curvy and dangerous two-lane highway, portions of
which have not been significantly redesigned and upgraded for
modern traffic since prior to World War II; and
Whereas, U.S. Route 33 east of Weston is being upgraded as
Corridor H to the Virginia border and the upgrading of U.S. 33 between Weston and Ripley would provide a continuous modern
east-west artery for transportation across central West Virginia;
and
Whereas, The upgrading of U.S. Route 33 between Ripley and
Weston to a modern highway would be conducive to economic
development, particularly in the counties of Roane, Calhoun and
Lewis, which suffer from some of the highest rates of
unemployment in the state; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the West Virginia Department of Transportation,
Division of Highways, is hereby requested to conduct a study of
the feasibility of upgrading U.S. Route Thirty-three between
Ripley and Weston to a modern highway and, upon completion
thereof, to report to the Legislature its findings, conclusions
and recommendations, no later than the first day of January, one
thousand nine hundred ninety-nine; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the West
Virginia Department of Transportation and the Commissioner of the
Division of Highways.