'This is needed so much': Public meeting held for Teays Valley road widening project

TEAYS VALLEY, W.Va. (WCHS) — A public meeting was held Tuesday for the Teays Valley Road Widening project, an effort officials said would make the area safer for everyone.

Residents came to Teays Valley Christian School to get more information and make their voices heard about the project.

"I'm afraid they're going to take out house, but it's OK because this is needed so much," Molly Morrison said.

Morrison said she has lived in her house since she was five years old. She said her and her husband bought it from her parents in 2003. They could soon be packing their bags to make way for the Teays Valley Road Widening project to address safety concerns.

"There's certain bridges and very narrow roadways and there's always people walking to work or walking for their health and that kind of thing and they can't get through," she said. "I'm really afraid that there's going to be a pedestrian hit."

"We've had one person die in our yard," Molly's husband, Bryan, said. "We've had several car crashes in our yard."

The West Virginia Department of Highways said the project would be an effort to make the area safer for drivers, bikers and pedestrians.

"We are looking at widening, again widening, to accommodate the multiuser, the bicycle... and so forth," WVDOH Assistant Director of Engineering Dirar Ahmad said. "We're looking at what ways we can reduce the accidents, because they are not acceptable. If even there is one accident, to us, it's too many accidents."

Dozens of people showed up to talk with the WVDOH about the potential project.

"We work for the people. We are a servant of the people, and we want to make sure when the project is done that everybody is happy and we use the taxpayers in the best manner," Ahmad said.

Although the project would mean a move for the Morrisons, they said they welcome it.

"I've loved my little green and yellow house and I hate to leave it, but I know that this is better for the community," Morrison told Eyewitness News.

The project would focus on the corridor from Great Teays Road to Apple Lane. Construction would begin in 2026.