Route 7 Reconfiguration for Powhatan Point

 

The Route 7 Realignment Suggested Plan represents the recommendations for reconfiguring the routing through the community with focus on minimum impact to effected property owners and community residents while offering easy access at critical junctures.

 

The Plan has been presented to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for consideration in their future planning efforts - typically five year outlook.  Once identified as a needed effort, the ODOT will initiate a study to analyze route, impacted properties, construction implications, costs (signifiicant $100M+ effort) and time line to complete, which could be in phases.  The referenced

Belmont-Ohio-Marshall Transportation Study,  Fiscal Years 2018 - 2021 Prepared by: Belomar Regional Council and Interstate Planning Commission, describes current transportation planning for the area.  The limited funds/projects found in the report, show no efforts to realign Route 7 through 2021 for Powhatan Point.  To do that requires efforts by the municipality, county and state/federal officials to lobby for our community.  Until changes can occur, traffic through the town will only increase and be more threatening to local resident travel.

 

As described in the proposed Powhatan Point Route 7 Realignment Plan (click on Plan for high resolution graphic), extensive design considerations were made to reroute Route 7 along the current route from northern town entry/over Little Captina Creek/along the Powhatan Cemetery and under Main Street intersection.  This has the greatest impact on the property owners fronting current Route 7. Thereafter, the new route plan follows the rail line over Mellot St/rail spur/Captina Creek/Murray coal tailings western refuse dump/ and the current southern Route town exit.  Critical on-off ramps are made at: (a) northern Route 7 town entry/exit; (b) Main Street; (c) northern River Road/Riverfront Resort/Murray Renaissance Center; (d) southern Murray Renaissance Center; and (e) southern Route 7 town entry/exit.  This serves easy access for all residents and minimized impact by through traffic and expected visitors to the Powhatan Point Riverfront Resort and/or Murray Renaissance Center.

 

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