PARKERSBURG - Parkersburg residents will be without Department of Motor Vehicles services for a week-and-a-half after this Friday as officials will transition into a new permanent location.
DMV officials announced the temporary DMV location at the National College in Park Shopping Center will be closed at the end of business Friday so staff will have time to move into the new facility at 627 Lubeck Ave. The DMV plans to open the new site to the public on Oct. 3.
DMV spokesman Natalie Harvey said the DMV is not trying to inconvenience its customers, but time is needed to get the equipment moved, hooked up and working properly so it can best serve customers when the DMV office opens. Things needed to be done will require many people working together, she said.
''We can't move everything and have it working within a day's time,'' Harvey said. ''You have to have time to get the programming done, transfer everything and get the phones hooked up.
''We want to make sure everything is in place.''
The 9,000-square-foot facility will include a motorcycle-testing area and a video-conferencing room.
"I am thrilled to open a state-of-the-art facility for our customers in Parkersburg,'' said DMV Commissioner Joe Miller. ''I am thankful to our DMV customers in the Parkersburg area for their patience as we have transitioned from the old location, to temporary housing, and finally to this new building.
''The new location will provide a larger office, which will improve customer service."
In March 2011, DMV officials abruptly closed the Parkersburg Regional Office at 3001 Dudley Ave. because of health and safety reasons for employees and residents. It was determined repairs needed to be done to the roof and structure. The sudden closure took many by surprise.
When the Dudley Avenue office closed, county officials and others secured locations to make sure services continued as the situation was uncertain for many.
The DMV set up temporary locations at the Judge Black Annex in downtown Parkersburg and at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. These temporary locations remained in operation through August 2011 when the DMV opened its temporary location at the National College building.
The Parkersburg area has shown great patience as the DMV has moved around and they want to make sure the new location is ready, Harvey said.
''When the time comes to open, we want to put our best foot forward,'' she said. ''We want to do everything we can do to make sure the opening goes smoothly.
''You've got to have time to do that.''
