TENNERTON – The Upshur County Library has been looking to expand its parking lot since 1994, and now, they are finally getting the chance.

Director of the Upshur County Library Paul Norko said the project underway now at the Tennerton facility is one they’ve wanted to complete for quite some time; however, the library only recently found funds available to expand the parking lot.

“We currently have 15 paved spots plus and about seven in the unpaved gravel area in the upper right, so 23 spots,” Norko said. “Once the project is done, we’ll have around 37 paved spots, with about three handicapped parking spots, better sidewalks, better lighting and it should be a lot safer.”

The business manager for the Upshur County Public Library, Connie Cutright, said there are not enough spaces to accommodate people when they come to the library for special events.

“During events like a story time, particularly when we’re really crowded, people sometimes park across the road,” Cutright said. “When that happens, we’re having kids having to cross Route 20.”

Norko said the library hopes to also do work on the existing parking lot for the library but plans to have a base coat of asphalt applied to the expanded part first, which is now gravel.

“The library’s goal is to have the expanded part of the parking lot ready to use with a base coat of paving before anything is done on the existing section of the parking lot,” Norko said. “Some things that are tentatively planned for the old section include installing new utility lines, additional handicapped parking and a new traffic flow.”

Norko said if and when the traffic flow route of the parking lot changes, the current exit would become the entrance and exit for the library, and the existing entrance will be shut down, so there is only one entrance to the library and two exits, with one being on the other side of the lot near the hair salon.

“Basically, there will be an island, and in the middle will be the book drop, a light pole, and there will be a flag,” Norko said. “Then, around the outside will be parking, including some handicapped spots right near the door so people don’t have a walk.”

The library is also looking to replace the current sign out front, which is being donated by Friends of the Library.

“After everything else is done, the sign will be replaced,” Norko said. “Friends of the Library have already agreed to replace the sign with an electronic LED version, kind of like a smaller version of the one the middle school has. The current sign is seen as a safety hazard because it can be hard for people to see oncoming traffic.”

Norko said they do not have an exact date when the paving will be done.