On Feb. 11, WVDOT officials updated the Brooke Hancock Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission (BHJ) about the ongoing environmental study that will determine the future bridge’s location south of Wellsburg.

“Given the potential investment of millions of taxpayer dollars, the Secretary of Transportation felt it would be prudent to delay the decision in order to perform a thorough evaluation of the Market Street Bridge,” the statement read.

Many local business and government leaders believed the agency was delaying the study because of current efforts to rehabilitate the nearby Market Street bridge.

Members of the Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce gathered in the showroom of Allieta Ford Thursday night as state officials explained that the environmental study was still in progress and that the Market Street bridge study had no bearing on it.

“The Secretary (of Transportation) is adamant that the scope of the work they’re in is continuing,” said Perry Keller, head of program planning and administration for WVDOT. Dr. John Brown, executive director of BHJ is hoping the state agency can further clarify its earlier statement about the two bridges.

“I think what we heard tonight was an explanation by WVDOT that these are two separate projects that are not competing with each other,” Brown said. “Hopefully we get clarification from WVDOT on that matter. I think when you send out something like that, it confuses the general public.”

Chamber members read aloud from several letters sent by state lawmakers from the area, who expressed their belief that both projects were worthwhile and that both projects were continuing.

Even so, chamber members continued with a petition drive urging lawmakers to continue supporting the proposed span south of Wellsburg.