Berkeley County officials urge state to prioritize roads, not a new Exit 8 welcome center

Several speakers at the Berkeley County Commission meeting pressed the county to oppose building a new West Virginia Department of Highways (DOH) welcome center at Exit 8 on Interstate 81 and to instead direct federal and state funds to road improvements and expansion of existing welcome centers.

Corey Rodriguez, of Martinsburg, who attended the DOH public hearing, said local people emphasized the need for improved infrastructure — roads, bypasses and safer intersections — rather than a new visitor center. "We need the roads worked on, not a welcome center," Rodriguez said.

Commissioners who attended the DOH hearing reported the first $25 million discussed at the meeting is federal grant money intended for additional tractor‑trailer parking on I‑81, and they suggested that money could be used to expand and improve existing welcome centers and pay for road projects instead. Commissioner remarks referenced ongoing proposals including the Harold Drive project, a Hedgesville turn‑lane bid process, and potential Route 9 and bypass work tied to economic development.

The commission encouraged residents to submit comments to the DOH web portal through the March 10 public comment deadline and discussed drafting a joint letter signed by all commissioners to the transportation secretary expressing local preferences for alternative uses of the funds.

Next steps: County staff will draft correspondence and coordinate with the MPO and local stakeholders on a unified comment to the secretary of transportation; commissioners signaled support for prioritizing local road safety and improvements over a new Exit 8 facility.