How's this for a follow-up report:
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Cheat Lake Construction and Crash Concerns
Posted Friday, August 1, 2008 ; 05:40 PM
Updated Friday, August 1, 2008 ; 06:49 PM
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The Cheat Lake area of I-68 has been the scene of several fatal accidents since bridge construction started more than a month ago. People that live near the Cheat Lake Exit say something should be done to stop all the accidents.
Story by Macall Allen
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CHEAT LAKE -- June 20th emergency crews loaded an elderly driver into an ambulance.
A tractor trailer and the man's small SUV collided at the Cheat Lake Exit.
Then on July 30th another crash happened in almost the same spot.
Two tractor trailers wrecked and four passengers of a BMW ended up in the hospital.
Drivers say the construction on the I-68 bridge makes Exit 10 a dangerous place.
"It's an awful situation," says Cheat Lake resident Paula Booth. "I know they have to do the bridge repair work, that's important, but we've come to think of it as a death trap and taking your life in your own hands," says Booth.
Residents say they try to avoid the highway altogether.
"I even try to go around it. I'll go the old iron bridge way to get away from it because it is scary," says Cheat Lake resident Ruth Stone.
Motorists are coming off a steep mountain and they are immediately forced to merge into one lane because of construction and right before the merge, cars entering the highway must make a complete stop and this becomes dangerous for both drivers coming down the hill and those getting on the interstate.
People who travel the road every day say something should be done to prevent accidents from happening.
"They need better signs. They need to slow the trucks down to 10 miles per hour. They should be in their lowest gear coming off that mountain," says local business owner Barry Frey.
The Division of Highways says it has put out extra signs and state troopers say crews have done what they can.
"It is set up as the safest way possible right now. Unfortunately, where the merging lane is it is in the curve of the interstate," says Cpl. R. E. Garrison.
He says drivers have to be responsible for their safety too and use caution in the area.
The Division of Highways says the construction should be finished in the next four to five weeks.
They say they hope to be finished in time for WVU's first home football game on August 30th.
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Hmmm - I come down that hill @ 50mph. When I get within 1 miles of the construction (one lane closed), I slow to 40-45mph. Why? Because I've had to lock up my brakes 3 times in 7 days (14 runs) when idiots coming from the entrance ramp (with a stop sign) just pull out in front of me.