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North Street sidewalk work delayed by utility relocations; state ramps and Collins Ferry roundabout timelines updated
Summary
City staff said contractors remain delayed on North Street and First Street work because telecom companies have not moved lines to new poles; Department of Highways curb‑ramp upgrades are underway at about 80 city locations; Collins Ferry reconstruction expected to finish by December 2026.
City engineering staff told the Morgantown Traffic Commission that sidewalk and road reconstruction projects on North Street and First Street remain delayed because telecommunications companies have not yet relocated lines to newly installed utility poles.
Drew Jacqueline, staff engineer for the City of Morgantown, said the contractor cannot remove the old poles until the telecom companies move their lines, a common issue citywide that has delayed several projects. That delay prevents the city from widening the roadway and installing planned sidewalks.
Meanwhile, the state Department of Highways (DOH) is conducting a multi‑location curb‑ramp upgrade project in Morgantown. Staff said the DOH effort covers roughly "80ish" locations across the city as part of a multi‑year initiative to bring ramps into current accessibility standards.
Separately, the Collins Ferry reconstruction project will require intermittent full closures and is expected to run through December 2026, staff said. The work includes a new roundabout and utility phases that the city expects will cause traffic impacts but also improve a currently constrained intersection.
Why this matters: the utility relocation delays affect pedestrian access and timeline for pedestrian safety improvements. Commissioners asked staff for updates and acknowledged contractors are phasing work to minimize motorist disruptions.
Next steps: staff will continue to track telecom relocations, provide schedule updates to the commission, and monitor DOH ramp work and the Collins Ferry construction phasing.
