April 17, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lynette Maselli 304.357.7809 Lynette.Maselli@wvesnate.

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UNGER WANTS CONDITIONS OF DANGEROUS JEFFERSON COUNTY ROAD IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSED

CHARLESTON, W.V. Senate Majority Leader John Unger (D-Berkeley) is requesting the West Virginia Department of Transportation (DOT) conduct an engineering survey and address the hazardous conditions on Chestnut Hill Road in Jefferson County. Majority Leader Unger says the area studied by the Geotechnical Section nearly five years ago monitored one large granite face that is slowly splitting off and shifting. It is impossible to estimate by sight alone the mass of the granite face, says Unger. If this is dislodged, Chestnut Hill Road and Rt. 340 all the way to the Shenandoah River would be destroyed with potential loss of human life and property. Majority Leader Unger is asking that in addition to an engineering survey and study, the DOT immediately consider other possible solutions such as terracing, cutting setbacks and using gabion baskets or other strong fencing to hold the boulders. A permanent closure of Chestnut Hill Road is not a solution without providing other means of ingress and egress from the mountain, says Unger. In the event of an emergency, the lack of access would put thousands of residents living north of the intersection of Hostler Road and Chestnut Hill Road at risk of being land locked. Majority Leader Unger had a letter hand delivered to DOT Secretary Paul Mattox Wednesday asking for immediate help in resolving the issues of Chestnut Hill Road. ###