Published: November 21, 2009 09:23 pm      

Build it

Work on finding a way to complete the East Beckley bypass must happen now

Build it, and they will come.

Turn that around, and it could read something like this: They’re coming, so build it.

Boy Scouts of America is coming to the Beckley area. In a big, big way.

BSA is not only developing 10,000 acres in the Glen Jean-Mount Hope area for its National Scouting Center and high adventure base, the organization announced last week that the New River Gorge region will become the home of the Boy Scouts’ National Scout Jamboree, beginning in 2013 and returning every four years. And efforts are under way to bring the World Scout Jamboree here in 2019.

Philanthropist S.D. Bechtel Jr. wrote a check for $50 million, the largest gift in Boy Scouts history, putting a major jump on the development of the property, now called The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve.

Now it’s time for local, state and federal officials to jump into action.

That’s the build-it part.

With the Jamboree expected to attract 40,000 Boy Scouts and tens of thousands of visitors, it’s imperative that the next step be taken — and that’s the completion of the East Beckley bypass.

This area simply cannot afford to roll out the red carpet and have it lead to traffic gridlock.

The bypass, part of the Z-Way project in Raleigh County, currently runs from Interstate 64 near Raleigh County Memorial Airport to the Grey Flats area. Work is under way on a $32 million project to extend the highway to Stanaford Road.

It must not stop there. Planning and construction must be expedited to complete the bypass to U.S. 19 in the Bradley area, basically at the doorstep of the new scouting center.

It must start now, not a year from now, not six months from now, not a month from now.

NOW. Like yesterday.

Local and state officials, as well as our representatives in Washington, must place completion of the bypass at the top of the priority list to assure the highway is completed before the 2013 Jamboree.

Yes, it’s true that these are not the best of economic times. We’re aware that money for highway construction and maintenance is scarce.

But Boys Scouts of America has made a major commitment to this area. We must not only welcome the Boy Scouts, we must accommodate them.

The East Beckley bypass must be completed. Let’s get to work on finding a way. The clock is ticking.