MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The president of a Morgantown development group says ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings will not interrupt infrastructure projects in the area.
WestRidge President Ryan Lynch has confirmed the company will continue to make payments as part of three-way agreements with the Monongalia County Commission, the Morgantown Utility Board, and the state Department of Highways regarding water and sewer extensions and the I-79 Exit 155 Chaplin Hill Gateway Project.
“We’ve received approval through the Chapter 11 proceedings to make sure we honor our nearest-term commitments to keep it moving, which was important for us,” Lynch said on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.”
Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced back in July the state would scale back on new construction and focus on road and bridge maintenance. New projects would be tackled through public-private partnerships—the first one being the I-79 project.
“Since that time, we’ve had a very willing partner in the state Department of Highways,” Lynch said. “We’ve had weekly design meetings, and we do have momentum.”
Over the last six months, Lynch said they have conducted weekly design meetings for the proposed diverging diamond intersection estimated to cost $135 million.
“Increases momentum over the last six months since that announcement, and everybody expects a fall 2026 for the first phase of construction,” Lynch said.
Another important project that will continue is upgrading water and sewer capacity west of I-79 to support the next ten years of growth. About 18 months ago the system had reached capacity, and it was feared development would be paused.
“It’s not within the WestRidge boundary, but with the growth of WestRidge, Mylan Park, and the surrounding areas, the mainlines for both the water and sewer,” Lynch said.
New businesses expected to open next year are Panera Bread and Dave & Buster’s. Panera is expected to open after the first of the year, and the Dave & Buster’s could be open in the fall of 2026.
“They’re shooting for a fall 2026 opening,” Lynch said. “They’ve got their foundations done, steel up, and it’s going to be a 20,000 square foot facility.”