Three. 3. Description of the Extension Areas

Transcription

1 Three 3. Description of the Extension Areas The proposed extension to the Coal Heritage Trail is a contiguous and linked series of road segments in Raleigh and Fayette Counties in West Virginia. The current northern terminus of the Coal Heritage Trail National Scenic Byway is the Exhibition Coal Mine Visitor Center in Beckley, (Raleigh County) West Virginia. Summary of the Extension Areas The proposed National Scenic Byway extension begins at the northern terminus and travels north on WV 16/19 through Raleigh County and the unincorporated community of Bradley, passing under the four-lane US 19. After passing under US 19, the extension runs on WV 16 for some distance, passing the Raleigh/Fayette County line shortly before the community of Mount Hope and continuing through the communities of Glen Jean, Oak Hill, North Oak Hill, Fayetteville, Oak Ridge, Youngstown, Beckwith and Cotton Table 1. Trail Segments West Virginia Coal Heritage Trail National Scenic Byway County Mileage Route Mercer County miles Varies McDowell County miles Varies Wyoming County miles Varies Raleigh County miles Varies TOTAL miles Proposed Extension Areas State Byway Raleigh County 9.62 miles WV 16 (from Exhibition Mine to County Line) Fayette County miles WV 16 Fayette County miles US 60 (Midland Trail) Fayette County 6.63 miles US 19 TOTAL miles GRAND TOTAL miles Hill before crossing the New River and meeting Chimney Corner. At Chimney Corner, the proposed extension ends its run on WV 16 and turns east to travel via US 60 passing Hawk s Nest State Park and the communities of Ansted, Victor and Hico. This section of US 60 from Chimney Corner to Hico is part of the Midland Trail National Scenic Byway. The proposed extension intersects with US 19 south of Hico. The proposed extension turns right (south) onto US 19 and travels south past the New River Gorge National River and other National Park Service lands including Fayette Station Road. Table 1 provides a summary of the CHT mileage by county and of the proposed extension areas, also by county. Signage The CHT CMP noted that signage on the trail falls into four general categories: Directional; Informational; Advertising; and Interpretive. Directional Signage Directional signage was defined in the CHT CMP as signage that signals to visitors they are on the Coal Heritage Trail and reassures visitors they did not miss a turn while navigating through towns and communties. Improvements have been made to the directional signage along the trail, and the Raleigh and Fayette County extension areas have benefitted from the designation of the trail as a National Scenic Byway. Trailblazing signs at regular intervals indicate to visitors they are indeed on the state-designated Coal Heritage Trail Scenic Byway. Informational Signage Informational signage was identified in the CHT CMP as signage that informs visitors of important sites to see while in that particular town. There is a need for directional signage, consistent with that in the already federally-designated sections, to be developed for the extension areas. Advertising Signage At the time the CHT CMP was prepared, the Coal Heritage Trail was a state-designated scenic byway and, as the CMP 17

2 indicates, such designation prohibits off-premise signs. However, the CMP also indicates advertising signs are a major problem along the trail because the majority of communities (Beckley and Bluefield being the exceptions along the CHT) do not regulate outdoor advertising. In the extension areas, Oak Hill and Fayetteville in Fayette County have outdoor advertisement regulations; Beckley in Raleigh County also has regulations in place. The Department of the Interior regulates the National Park Service lands at the New River Gorge National River. Interpretive Signage Interpretive signage was defined in the CHT CMP as signs that challenge the intellect of the tourists, provoking them to see things unconventionally or from a different viewpoint. The Coal Heritage Highway Authority has made great strides in developing interpretive signage in the federally-designated portions of the trail. Intepretive signs have been designed and fabricated for five sites along the trail in the following locations: Mercer County - at the Bramwell Depot; McDowell County - at the Ashland Company Store; Wyoming County - at Twin Falls State Park near Pineville; Raleigh County - in Sophia s downtown; and Fayette County - in Mount Hope s new downtown park. Signs have been installed in Mount Hope and construction to install signs in Bramwell, Ashland and Twin Falls is in progress and will be finished by January In addition to these site-specific interpretation projects, the CHHA was instrumental, along with its sister organization the National Coal Heritage Area, in contributing to the interpretive elements of the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine visitor center. The National Park Service has developed interpretive signage in Fayette County for Fayette Station Road, as will be discussed later in this chapter. This signage is already constructed and in use by visitors from all over the world. Organization of the Extension Areas into Districts This addendum organizes the proposed extension areas and their resources into 12 discrete units or districts to make the complex and varied information about the extension areas easier to understand. The CHT CMP employed the comparable term character zones to describe five discrete units. Each district in this addendum was assigned a name that reflects its geographic location in the extension areas; a map of the 12 districts is shown in Figure 2. As noted on page 1 of the CHT CMP, the trail can be experienced traveling in either a northerly or southerly direction. Visitors can enter the trail at the southern terminus (the Eastern Regional Coal Archives in Bluefield, West Virginia) or the northern terminus (the Exhibition Coal Mine in Beckley, West Virginia) or at a mid-point such as Ashland, West Virginia or Twin Falls State Park near Pineville, West Virginia. It is worth noting that WV 16 in Wyoming County is the route of the CHT. In this addendum, District 1 (Pineville) is included because several important historic resources were not included in the earlier CHT CMP. Throughout this addendum, the extension areas of the CHT are the areas in Raleigh and Fayette Counties. The inventory of resources includes those in Wyoming County because they were not included in the earlier CMP. The 12 districts, traveling from south to north, are: Wyoming County: District 1. Pineville Raleigh County: District 2. North Beckley District 3. Bradley Fayette County: District 4. Mount Hope District 5. Glen Jean - Whipple District 6. Thurmond District 7. Oak Hill - North Oak Hill District 8. Fayetteville District 9. Beckwith District 10. Midland Trail District 11. US 19 South District 12. Fayette Station Road A brief description of each of the 12 districts follows this section and the resources within the extension areas are discussed in Chapter 4 of this addendum. 18

3 Figure 2. Proposed Extension Areas to the Coal Heritage Trail in Raleigh & Fayette Counties 19

4 District 1. Pineville Figure 3 depicts the short segment of WV10 which is used to travel from the CHT (WV 10/16) into Pineville to reach the courthouse. The Pineville Courthouse and downtown Pineville are important resources in the history of Wyoming County. District 2. North Beckley District 2, depicted on Figure 4, begins at the northern terminus of the CHT--the Visitor Center at the Exhibition Coal Mine in an urbanzied area of the city of Beckley, West Virginia. Construction of a new Visitor Center, themed as a coal camp company store, was completed in Expansion and renovation of the Exhibition Mine was a priority project in the CHT CMP and The Coal Heritage Highway Authority had substantial input into the development of the facility and interpretive components. A brochure rack and map of the Coal Heritage Trail allow visitors to plan their travels along the trail. Figure 3. Pineville 20

5 The proposed extension transitions from a narrow winding 2-lane road, at the Exhibition Coal Mine, to US 16 (Robert C. Byrd Drive), a 5-lane signalized urban corridor. Evidence of coal heritage in this portion of District 2 consists of former mine and mine supply businesses located on both sides of the proposed route. US 16 was the major north/south route between communities; Beckley was a service center for the region. The road retains the character of an important arterial road through the community. The character of the road changes as more recently developed areas are encountered driving north. Large parking lots and setback distances contribute to this character and there is Figure 4. North Beckley increasingly little visual reference to coal history as one travels north away from Beckley. The corridor is characterized by fast food establishments, car lots, and shopping centers. There are no intrinsic qualities in evidence and the visual quality is poor as one approaches the merging of US 16 and US 19. Turning left onto US 16/19, the road configuration continues to have five lanes of traffic (two lanes in either direction and a center turn-lane), with full access to businesses along the route and signalized intersections. As one approaches Raleigh Mall (and the intersection of Pinewood Drive and Industrial Drive) the speed limit decreases to 35 mph and there is less intense development along the corridor. After passing Raleigh Mall on the left, the speed limit increases to 50 mph. After a short distance, the community of Cranberry occurs. While development is sparse, the road is still a 5-lane configuration and there are fewer access points. The Cranberry School is located on the left (west) side of the road. By taking a left-turn at Prosperity Road, one may drive to the New River Company Store at Cranberry. Continuing on US 16/19, a funeral home occurs on the left, and Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens on the right. The next landmark, Crossroads Mall, occurs as one approaches the end of District 2. The character of the proposed route quickly transitions as the exit ramp for US 19 turns to the east. The route changes abruptly from a 5-lane signalized configuration to a more intimate driving experience on a 2-lane configuration as one drives under the US 19 overpass. 21

6 District 3. Bradley The beginning of District 3 is immediately apparent as the speed limit decreases from 50 to 40 mph. This change in speed is necessary as the close and intimate character of the road is largely achieved by the horizontal and vertical curvature of the road lying close to the existing rolling topography. The pattern of land use along the route is characterized by small nodes of mixed-use development, including the Appalachian Bible College and rural single family residences. Figure 5. Bradley Entering the community of Bradley, few visual reminders of coal heritage remain. A small market, a local church and a veterinary clinic are examples of more recent development, while some residential structures from the coal camp era remain or have been remodeled or renovated for modern use. Leaving Bradley, the proposed route continues on 16 for a short distance, passing scattered development, including an abandoned service station, buildings from the 1940s and 1950s, and infrequent signage. District 3 ends as the route passes under US 19. District 4. Mount Hope Continuing on WV 16 under US 19, the speed limit of the proposed route is 55 mph, with a 2-lane configuration, as one enters the Mount Hope district (District 4). There is little development in the rugged terrain and the area has minimal visual interest with some industrial uses. As one approaches the community of Mount Hope, however, vistas of the area are revealed, along with evidence of decline. Shortly after crossing the Raleigh County line into Fayette County, the Kilsyth community is located on the left nestled along the railroad tracks. The importance of the railroad as a principle organizing element of this coal camp community is evidenced by the pattern of streets arranged parallel to the tracks. Housing from the coal era is intact and inhabited, and a vacant power house provides a striking vertical visual element in the landscape. A short distance further along WV 16, a mine portal on the left (west) side of the road and an immense exposed coal seam provide a reminder of the basis for the establishment of the communities in the region. 22

7 A turning to the left from WV16 onto Route 211 provides access to downtown Mount Hope from the proposed extension. The route is now signed as Main Street and the speed limit in the downtown area is 25 mph, thus allowing ample opportunities to contemplate the downtown s physically intact structures. A new urban park has been created on the right side of the street as one enters Mount Hope proper. This park is one of five sites that have (or will soon have) interpretive signage. The information on the signs for each of the locations are specific to that locale, but the signs will communcate a consistent message and have a unified design to visitors as they visit sites on the Coal Heritage Trail. Interpretive signage was one of the Priority Projects in the CHT CMP. [Note: albeit in a somewhat different manner. As the trail has evolved over time, installing interpretive signage in counties along the trail including Mercer, McDowell, Wyoming and Raleigh has become the accepted practice.] The approaching end of District 4 is signaled as one drives over the railroad tracks to re-join WV 16. A left turning onto WV16 marks the beginning of District 5. Figure 6. Mount Hope Numerous buildings remain from Mount Hope s heyday, including the Mountaineer Hotel, New River Company Store (now the Glorious Church of God in Christ), the Masonic Temple, the Bank of Mount Hope, and the Mount Hope Post Office. Other buildings from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s are still extant and used by the community and include the First Assembly of God, Mount Hope Baptist Temple, Mount Hope Presbyterian Church, Community Center, Bank of Mount Hope, Mount Hope Floral shop, Princess Playhouse, Mount Hope Theatre, and Aides Department Store. Collectively, the street system and intact historic buildings produce a dense, rich and complex experience, one that readily conveys the sense of a once thriving coal community. 23

8 District 5. Glen Jean to Whipple District 5 is illustrated by the red dashed line in Figure 7. It begins upon departure from the Mount Hope district and proceeds along WV 16 past a right turning to Thurmond (CR 25) up to where the the proposed extension is an improved 2-lane road, with a hill and creek on the left located above the valley floor. Development is sparse along this part of the proposed extension, wtih pockets of aged housing visible from the road. WV 16 merges with US 19 approximately six miles north of the Mount Hope corporate line. The two routes are co-located for approximately one-half of a mile. WV 16 then diverges from US 19, proceeds past a small commercial area and continues into Glen Jean. At this time, the description of District 5 will pause in order to continue to describe the route of the proposed extension in the order in which the road segments occur. The description of District 5 resumes after the description of District 6. Figure 7. Glen Jean to Whipple 24

9 District 6. Thurmond District 6 is illustrated in Figure 8, as a dashed line turning east off WV 16 onto CR 25 (Thurmond McDenoree Road). CR 25 leads to the historic Glen Jean community with its outstanding visual reminder of the coal era, the Bank of Glen Jean. The National Park Service maintains its headquarters for the New River Gorge National River in Glen Jean, across the street from the Bank of Glen Jean, and the Glen Jean Post Office is located next to the Park Service building. Continuing on CR 25, the route crosses Dunloup Creek numerous times. The road is narrow, requiring cars to slow down in order to pass. Several one-lane bridges require vehicles to come to a complete stop should they encounter each other at creek crossings. The scenic qualities of the creek and its vegetated banks, however, provide examples of striking beauty that are best seen at a slow pace of movement which the route configuration certainly provides. the Thurmond Depot are located toward the end of the road near the New River. The community of Thurmond is located along the eastern shore of the New River. Several former storefront buildings are located along the railroad tracks which, in typical coal community fashion, lie parallel to the river. The intact buildings contain interpretive information provided by the National Park Service in their storefront window displays. Prominent signage indicates past occupation by the New River Banking and Trust Company ( Depository for the State of WV and C & O Ry. Co. ) and the National Bank of Thurmond. The route returns to the proposed extension of the CHT via CR 25. The route enters New River Gorge National River property approximately two and one-half miles after the turning off WV 16. The Park Service s Thurmond Ranger Station and Figure 8. Thurmond 25

10 Resumption of District 5 (Glen Jean to Whipple) District 5 resumes at the intersection of CR 25 and WV 16. Turning northward, to the right, at this intersection, a 2-lane road configuration resumes. The route passes the communities of Redstar and Hilltop. The Skyline Drive-in is located approximately one-half of a mile past the entry sign to the Hilltop community. A sign on the building claims it Hank s last stop. While the precise location where singer Hank Williams died in 1953 is unknown, it is commonly accepted that the singer was found unresponsive at the Skylive Drive-In and that his driver sought assistance at the Pure Oil Station in nearby Oak Hill on New Year s Day morning. Mr. Williams was declared dead at Oak Hill Hospital. The Pure Oil Station was torn down in December To reach the Whipple segment, visitors will need to turn left (east) onto US 19 South, then proceed on US 19 to its intersection with WV 612. The Whipple Company Store is located at the intersection of WV 612 and CR 21/20. Returning to US 19, the route continues through areas of rural residential development until WV 16 and US 19 merge south of the community of Greenstown. Figure 9. Glen Jean to Whipple 26

11 District 7. Oak Hill / North Oak Hill District 7 begins at the junction of US 19 and WV 16 slightly south of Oak Hill. WV 16 and US 19 are co-located for approximately three-quarters of a mile and the route is a fourlane divided highway. The proposed extension continues until the WV 16/WV 61 exit. Turning right toward downtown Oak Hill, the character of the road resumes a two-lane configuration. This entry corridor has attractive mercantile class homes, well-maintained trees, and a curb and gutter system on the right side of the road. The left side of the road is open farmland (Lundale Farm, established 1849) with a split-rail fence along a large part of the corridor. Figure 10. Oak Hill / North Oak Hill The thriving downtown Oak Hill soon appears; pedestrian and vehicular traffic abound. The building stock is a mixture of historic and more modern structures. A sampling includes the Plateau Medical Center, Lewis House Museum, and Bank One. The downtown is very densely developed, with building faces very close to the roadway. The configuration of the road is two travel lanes, with areas for parallel parking on both sides of the street. The corridor on the north side of downtown quickly deteriorates to the point where it is very difficult to make a strong connection to the coal heritage aspects of the corridor. Fast food restaurants and gas stations abound, and sidewalks and curb and gutter systems are nonexistent. The cluttered nature of the development detracts from the historic qualities of the corridor, but there are lovely vistas to the northeast along the route. The speed limit is 25 mph. Continuing on the route, the speed limit increases to 45 mph and car sales and parts lots proliferate. Development becomes more and more sparse and District 7 ends as US 19 and WV 16 merge into a four-lane divided highway. 27

12 District 8. Fayetteville The WV 16 and US 19 road segments comprising District 8 have changed since the planning process started to develop this addendum to the CHT CMP. Since the planning process started, improvements to WV 16 in the vicinity of Appalachian Drive have connected two discontiguous segments of WV 16, thus precluding the necessity of driving on US 19. This part of the proposed extension area consists of open pastures and rolling terrain. Traveling north, just south of Fayetteville on the right hand side of the road is Wolf Creek Park, a sustainable development business park envisioned by Figure 11. Fayetteville community leaders as a model of progressive development practices in the sensitive Wolf Creek watershed. Fayetteville has staked a claim in the second home market and is endeavoring to further its role in this market. Many examples of new homes are evident in this portion of the corridor. As the route approaches the southern entrance to the Fayetteville community, the speed limit slows to 25 mph. Fayetteville s downtown has much of its historic building fabric in place. Indeed the Fayetteville historic district contains many examples of historic homes and other buildings which have been well-maintained. The Fayette County Courthouse occupies a prominent position in the courthouse square as befits this handsome edifice. Continuing on WV 16 through the downtown, District 8 comes to an end at the intersection of WV 16 and US

13 District 9. Beckwith Continuing on WV 16 through the northern limits of incorporated Fayetteville, the route passes the community of Oak Ridge on the left. The topography gradually changes and the ascent to higher elevations is marked by the addition of a third lane for slower moving vehicles to the two-lane typical section. The ascending areas are intermittent and, reaching a higher elevation, the road configuration is reduced once more to two lanes. Broad relatively flat plateaus of land lie adjacent to the roadway. The character of the district at these higher elevations is less densely populated with scattered residential and commerical Figure 12. Beckwith development occuring, as well as the turn off for the Fayette County Park. At Beckwith, there is a mill, dam and a building; past Beckwith there is more open land on both sides of the road with waterfalls and large rocks. The Cotton Hill Public Fishing Area begins prior to the Charles C. Rogers Bridge over the New River. Locals and visitors have access to the New River via a designated public fishing location. The Cotton Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is past Beckwith along the New River. Termed a botanical treasure and many rare plant species are found within the Cotton Hill floodplain and flat rock communities (in the historical New River Gorge in Native Notes of the West Virginia Native Plant Society s newsletter, Volume 11, Number 1, March 2003). Website also says During low flow periods you can literally walk on the bottom of New River through this section known as the New River drys. The road follows the topography of this relatively undeveloped area; pulloffs are located periodically to access public fishing areas. The landscape is rugged and dramatic and the road is carved into mountain as it follows the New River and railroad tracks. District 9 ends at the Chimney Corner settlement. Chimney Corner lies on the Midland Trail National Scenic Byway. The red dashed line on Figure 12 at left depicts the road segments in District 9 of the extension areas. 29

14 District 10. Midland Trail District 10 begins at the community of Chimney Corner several miles east of the conjunction of the Gauley and New Rivers. From WV 16, the extension now travels eastward on US 60 which, between Chimney Corner and Hico is the Midland Trail National Scenic Byway. This segment is characterized by a paucity of truck traffic, infrequent overlooks and a roadway configuration that compels drivers to slow down because the road in this mountainous terrain has noticeable horizontal and vertical curves. There is a high degree of intactness in the resources. Of special note is the world famous Mystery Hole, a 1960s era roadside tourist attraction. Before the advent of the interstate system, the Midland Trail was the predominant route between the lower Ohio Valley and points east of West Virginia. Hawk s Nest State Park is located on both sides of the roadway and the speed limit is approximately 40 mph. There are scenic views to the New River drys mentioned in the discussion of District 9. Notable along the route in the vicinity of the community of Ansted are indigenous building materials, Mountain Memories Cabins, Midland Trail Motel, the Contentment House, the African-American Museum. In Ansted, visitors can visit the Blue Smoke Salsa Company, watch salsa being made, taste samples and buy products. The landscape past Ansted to the east consists of rolling terrain, sparsely located homesteads and is largely undeveloped. Nearing the community of Hico, there are the beginnings of interchange-oriented development. District 10 ends ends at the intersection of US 60 (the Midland Trail) with US 19, just south of Hico. Figure 13. Midland Trail 30

15 District 11. US 19 District 11 begins south of Hico at the intersection of US 60 and US 19 and proceeds southwest on US 19. For the majority of this roadway segment, there are few reminders of coal heritage. Most whitewater rafting outfitters in the southern part of the state have their offices and facilities located in this corridor. The road configuration consists of a generous median (approximately 80-feet in width) and the speed limit is 65 mph. This rate of travel means visitors will be able to see only Figure 14. US 19 those resources that are prominent enough to be noticeable at a fast rate of speed. There are coal heritage resources within the corridor, but they are somewhat hidden until the landscape changes dramatically upon the approach to the New River Gorge. Natural and recreation intrinsic qualities are more visibly abundant, but historic qualities endure in remote parts of the corridor. The unincorporated community of Lansing and the Canyon Rim Visitor Center are located in close proximity to US 19 shortly before the New River Bridge. Visitors may access Fayette Station Road (District 12 of the extension area) from the parking lot of the Canyon Rim Visitor Center. Continuing on US 19 after the visitor center, visitors cross the New River Bridge which is the world s second longest single arch steel span and the longest single arch steel span bridge in the western hemisphere. There are limited views and vistas in this part of the corridor except where they unexpectedly open to a spectacular panorama. The amount of development adjacent to the roadway is limited in this part of the corridor as visitors travel through lands owned by the National Park Service on either both sides or one side as illustrated on Figure 14. The roadway is configured as a 4-lane divided highway with limited access and approximately 20-foot medians. Figure 14 also shows that, upon reaching the intersection of US 16 and US 19 outside Fayetteville near near Biscuit World, visitors will have completed most of the journey on the extension area with the exception of Fayette Station Road which is described in the discussion of District 12. The intersection of US 16 and US 19 marks the beginning of District 9 (Beckwith) which has already been discussed. 31

16 District 12. Fayette Station Road The journey down into the New River Gorge on Fayette Station Road affords an experience unlike any other in the extension area. The journey begins at the edge of the Canyon Rim Visitor Center parking lot as visitors round a sharp hairpin curve called stupid s corner so named for recreational vehicle drivers who fail to see the signs which strongly caution against traveling on the road, get stuck in the turning and have to be rescued. Figure 15. Fayette Station Road Fayette Station Road was carved out of the mountains and is predominantly a one-way road down into and up out of the valley that crosses the river and travels through areas where coal camp communities and mine entrances were once located. Railroad freight and passenger service is also still active in the gorge. The National Park Service has acted to ensure the visitor experience is broad, insightful compelling, educational and relevant to today s visitors. A series of wayside signs and pull-offs provides visitors with information about the approximately 40 coal mining communities that were established, and ultimately declined, in the gorge. Wayside interpretive signage also communicates how coal was formed, how the bridges over the New River were built, and how railroad accommodation affected the lives of those who lived in the gorge. The National Park Service also developed the New River Gorge Loop Tour Map and an audio compact disc about Fayette Station Road. Both are available to visitors at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center. 32

17 Land Use Planning Comprehensive land use planning does not exist within the proejct area. Some jurisdictions exercise extensive land use controls (zoning, subdivision regulations) while others do no. The Department of the Interior also owns sizeable lands within the corridor covered by the proposed scenic byway. Land use planning information was collected from all city, county and federal entities within the project area. Substantive changes in land use planning practices within the region is not expected in the immediate future. The table below summarizes current land use planning efforts within the project area. Table 2. Land Use Planning Jurisdiction Zoning Subdividsion Regulations Outdoor Advertisment Regulations Corridor Overlays Federal Lands Managment Pineville Not Applicable Limited No No No (N/A) Wyoming County No No No No N/A Beckley Yes Yes Yes No N/A Raleigh County Yes Yes Yes No N/A Mount Hope No No No No N/A Oak Hill Yes Yes Yes No N/A Fayetteville Yes Yes Yes No N/A Ansted No No No No N/A Fayette County Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A Department of the Interior (National Park Service) * * * * Yes * The Department of the Interior manages lands under the authority of their General Management Plan 33

18 Safety and Accident Record Safety and accident data from September 1, 2004, through August 31, 2007, provided by the West Virginia Division of Highways Traffic Engineering Divison is summarized below; full data is available in Appendix B of this addendum. The data indicates there are a number of reasons for collisions and that the majority of accidents occurs on weekendays, thus indicating commuter traffic is present. Collisions occur throughout the year and are not concentrated in one month or season in particular. Under the category most harmful event collisions occurring with pedestrians or bicycles are rare. This is most likely because the corridors are infrequently used by pedestrians and bicycles due to the speeds associated with the roadway, types of traffic that typically use the roadway and other characteristics. Table 3. Accident Data Number of Accidents Number of Injuries Number of Fatalities Manner of Collision - top 3 causes (in numbers) Weekday Raleigh County Route: WV % 1. Rear End Collision Access Conflict Sideswipe Same Direction 32 Fayette County Route: WV % 1. Rear End Collision Single Vehicle Crash Access Conflict 36 Route: US % 1. Single Vehicle Crash Rear End Collision 7 3. Head On 6 Route: US % 1. Single Vehicle Crash Rear End Collision Sideswipe Same Direction 8 See Appendix B for complete data set from West Virginia Division of Highways Traffic Engineering Dvision 34