The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) is reviewing feedback collected during a public workshop held Tuesday, August 5, 2025, on the proposed West Washington Street improvement project in Charles Town, Jefferson County.
The meeting, hosted at the Betty J. Roper Auditorium at Wright Denny Intermediate School, drew residents, business owners and local officials interested in the planned upgrades. The open-house format allowed attendees to view project displays, speak directly with WVDOH engineers and planners, and share comments and concerns.
Proposed improvements focus on increasing roadway safety and capacity at the intersection of West Washington Street, Summit Point Road, and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The project also aims to enhance pedestrian safety and bicycle mobility throughout the corridor, supporting the long-term growth of the Charles Town area.
Crash data from 2017 to 2021 was reviewed to determine how often crashes occurred, their types and whether patterns existed. Over the five-year period, there were 51 crashes in the project area, with about 29 percent resulting in injuries. Of these, 23 occurred at the intersection of WV 51 and County Route 340/18 (Augustine Avenue), and 10 occurred at the intersection of WV 51 and County Route 13 (Summit Point Road). When compared with similar roadways across West Virginia, the crash rate in this area is nearly 2.5 times higher than the state average.
“We value the input we received from the community,” said Doug Kirk, director of the WVDOH Technical Support Division. “The feedback gathered at the meeting will be carefully considered as we move forward with design and construction planning.”
Residents who could not attend the workshop may submit written comments through Friday, September 3, 2025, at http://go.wv.gov/dotcomment.
