CHARLESTON — Beckley-Raleigh County Transportation Authority and West Virginia Department of Transportation officials both agreed with proceeding to the next phase of the proposed Z-Way roads project after selecting an estimated $109 million alternative route recommended by a consulting engineering firm studying the issue.

The first priority will be a segment that calls for construction on another portion of the East Beckley Bypass from Grey Flats Road to Ragland Road at an estimated cost of $48 million.

Priority two would widen U.S. 19 from W.Va. 3 in Shady Spring, north to W.Va. 307, with some sections being five lanes and others being three lanes, at an estimated cost of $39 million.

The third phase calls for building approximately one-half mile of new road to bypass the traffic light at the W.Va. 307 and Airport Road intersection, and then tie directly in at Interstate 64 at Exit 124. Estimated cost for that section is $22 million.

“This alternative route is the best one for traffic concerns in the foreseeable future,” said Wes Stafford, project manager for engineering firm Wilbur Smith Associates, hired by the state to study and prepare a draft of options aimed at solving the growing traffic crisis in and around the greater Beckley area.

Called “Alternative 2” or the “East Beckley Bypass with Southern Z-Way Improvements,” it scored highest on travel models used by the engineering company studying the proposed highways project.

The company used five categories — safety, mobility, cost effectiveness, regional economic growth and environmental impacts — to rate and rank each alternative route.

“Alternative 2 is a little more expensive, but has the highest benefits cost ratio and can be phased to construct segments that will provide immediate benefits,” Stafford explained to members of the authority at Monday’s meeting in Charleston.

“We agree with the recommendation of the consultant,” said Bill Baker, the local transportation authority’s president. “It will resolve the problems we have on U.S. 19 and W.Va. Rt. 3 out through the Shady Spring, Daniels and Beaver areas. It will also resolve all the problems around the Lowe’s and Wal-Mart shopping districts, even though it comes in behind the area we originally looked at for the Z-Way.

“This solves some of our initial problems, but doesn’t address everything,” Baker added.

Authority member Father Tom Acker of Forward Southern West Virginia was particularly concerned with the plan’s lack of addressing heavy traffic and safety concerns along Harper Road in Beckley.

“The plan doesn’t address the problems along Harper Road and the need for east/west traffic issues coming off I-77 into downtown Beckley,” Acker said.

Jim Sothen, deputy state highway engineer, told the Transportation Authority that it could agree to move forward with Alternative 2 and revisit the Harper Road and east/west access to the city as the project proceeds.

“That can still be on the table,” Sothen said.

“The east/west connector is important,” Baker said. “However, it was not our first priority. This plan takes care of our first priorities and they left open in our discussions the east/west connector, which again is still very important to us.”

Phase 2 is the final design study and detailed cost estimate of the entire project, according to Sothen.

He said the consultant must provide a timeline for the study once the final contracts are signed.

“They have estimated six to eight months for Phase 2,” he said.

— E-mail: fpace@register-herald.com