There was a time when officials spoke that the road through our community was to be expanded into a four lane. At some point in time the town of Moundsville took up the state’s offer and widened the road up for the increasing traffic, as it seemed everyone had a car. Were their sacrifices on business and homes who stood in the ways of the road, absolutely. It is said when the question was put to our community, the offer to move forward with progress and sacrifice was turned down. The days of a four lane through New Martinsville have come and gone, and will not return. If the state in the far distant future makes the road four lanes through to the Interstate above Parkersburg, that’s a long way into the future. Doubtful many of us alive today will ever see it built to lighten the load of traffic, and just as important make the town safer for pedestrians.

With the increase in heavy traffic due to the growth of the oil and gas industry, and many more vehicles on the roads, the congestion of thousands of vehicles a day fill our roadways. The sidewalks are sized to long ago standards. Even with a sidewalk, a walk along the main highway can be a scary event as semi trucks and large equipment pass by. Between the trucks is an endless bumper to bumper line of vehicles.

Why am I telling you something you already know? Because we the public, city leaders, county commissioners and state officials’, need to be made aware people are being injured by the lack of safe walkways. Recently a death occurred when a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle. In fact, recently two other incidents between pedestrians and vehicles have taken place. You didn’t know of the problem? I am sure you didn’t look away and not ask, “why is this happening.”

But there are those who knew and perhaps looked away as they have in the past. Injuries and deaths along our roads are not new, over the years at least one other fatality and more were struck by passing vehicles. Who’s at fault? At this point it is not about fault or blame. It is about preventing another accident in the future.

The road ways from the upper shopping plaza down to the lower plaza have no proper walking area or sidewalks and little or no lighting. In fact, where Bens Run crosses under the road, the area alongside the road could not even be called a berm.

Over the years, that area has been the site of accidents between vehicles and pedestrians. Why this area especially? Two public housing facilities are located in proximity to the road area. There are those whose finances may not allow them to possess a car for transportation. They walk along the road to their jobs and shop at both plazas. Their walking trips along the road can be early in the morning, at high noon, or as darkness falls.

Last weekend I made a point of driving through that area after dark. From the top of the hill down to Bob Evans there is very little lighting. And no sidewalk. And yet as we drive through that area and notice someone walking, we tend to look away from the danger.

I wondered after hearing of the loss of life, can we as a community accept this loss. Or maybe we will react when a child is injured or worse in the future.

It is time those in positions of authority begin to take on this challenge and make that area safer. Is it the city officials, county officers or elected state officials’ responsibility? I think if they all pulled together, an answer can be found. And you the public can make a difference, call your council person, county commissioner and the highways department and tell them, we want this section of highways improved and made safer as we Look Through the Lens.