The West Virginia Division of Highways (DOH) has decided to close U.S. 340 “between the bridges” at Harpers Ferry from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31.

The closure is due to the dangerous condition of that one mile stretch of road, due to unstable rocks high above the road. The DOH has contracted with a business specializing in this type of work who has agreed to get the work finished in three months. The company will pay a penalty if the work is not completed in that time frame.

During the closure traffic will be directed through Mechanicsville, VA, an unincorporated town a mile west of Hillsboro, where Virginia Route 671 connects with Virginia Route 9. This would mean a 22-mile detour between Harpers Ferry and Charles Town.

The Jefferson County delegation, both House of Delegates and Senate, met with DOH officials in Charleston on Jan. 21 to discuss this. We asked many questions and discussed some ideas.

We asked why this time period was chosen, and not a time later in the winter. Our tourism industry depends heavily on October business to survive. The DOH said that if the work was to be done in January it would take much longer. We also asked if it would be possible to close only one lane of 340. The DOH said that there would be occasions where rocks would fall on both lanes. And we asked if the solution to the loose rock would involve wire cage material. The answer to that was no, that the work would be bolting the loose rock firmly to the mountain.

I suggested the DOH erect, with Maryland’s permission, a temporary bridge (called a Bailey bridge) between Sandy Hook, Md., and Harpers Ferry. While this would increase traffic in downtown Harpers Ferry during that three-month period, sending traffic on a 22-mile detour will make things quite difficult for individuals and businesses.

The DOH said that the National Park Service (NPS), which administers the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, had nixed the idea. NPS has final say in any construction project that affects a national park.

I don’t understand this position on the part of NPS. Yes, there would be oppressive traffic at times. But I fear the 22-mile detour will seriously reduce park attendance at Harpers Ferry during that time. I have asked U.S. Senator Joe Manchin’s office to inquire about this.

I think we need a long-term solution to the bottleneck that is the Harpers Ferry section of U.S. 340. NPS has said that the park viewshed at Harpers Ferry would not be disturbed, and Virginia has said that under no circumstances would it permit any change to its portion of 340 at Harpers Ferry.

But I hope West Virginia can work with Maryland on a northern bypass around Harpers Ferry. Ironically, the original route of U.S. 340 did not go through Virginia. Prior to 1955, U.S. 340 went from Sandy Hook to Harpers Ferry and then on through Harpers Ferry and Bolivar via Washington Street.

John Doyle is a delegate for the West Virginia District 67. He can be reached at johndoyle@wvhouse.gov.