PARKERSBURG -Maintenance crews had nearly completed the installation of security fence along the front of the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority’s transportation center Wednesday.

Joe Lockhart, transit authority manager, said crews have pulled down the decorative barriers to install the security fence.

“To enclose the area we are putting a real security fence,” he said. “We installed security fence all around the terminal area, up the driving ramp and across the front. We already had it in back of the alley.”

Lockhart said the old, decorative fence in the front of the building on Juliana Street could be pulled down by hand. He said putting in authentic security fence should keep intruders out of the terminal area after hours.

Lockhart said since 2003 they have twice had intruders climb over the wall and break into the office. He said the break-ins happened several years ago and the only thing of value taken was a laptop computer.

“We have been talking about getting this done since then,” he said. “It was one of those things you talk about doing and eventually move on.”

The new security fence costs about $45,000, according to Lockhart. The security measures are in addition to $56,000 of security upgrade s to 15 Easy Rider buses. The upgraded equipment will include digital security cameras with 500 gigabyte memory and a user friendly system to copy and burn camera recordings.

Lockhart said security for the fleet is valuable for a variety of reasons. Cameras allow drivers to monitor the back of the buses, and digital recorders provide information in case there are automobile accidents or incidents on the buses.