Governor Jim Justice and the West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) have announced significant progress on statewide paving projects funded by a $150 million supplemental budget appropriation.
On May 30, 2024, Justice signed Senate Bill 1002, enabling the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) to initiate another round of paving projects across the state. The bill signing took place with Transportation Secretary Jimmy Wriston, P.E., and WVDOH workers present.
Joe Pack, P.E., the WVDOH Chief Engineer of Operations, expressed enthusiasm about the program. “The WVDOH is excited for the opportunity to provide resurfacing of the roadways selected as part of the program,” Pack said. “Our crews are able and willing to step in and perform the resurfacing in conjunction with the paving industry.”
In north-central West Virginia, several paving projects are underway, including 1.73 miles of US 119 through Grafton and nearly a mile of WV 705 in Monongalia County. Among more than 75 projects funded in District 4, which includes Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston and Taylor counties, 2.49 miles of US 50 in Taylor County is also being paved.
Sixty-six projects funded by the surplus will cover counties in the western and northern regions, including Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood, and Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Tyler and Wetzel counties. Notable projects include the ongoing paving of Larkmead Road in Wood County, while Jones Ridge in Roane County and Left Fork Rock Run Road in Pleasants County have been completed.
The Kanawha Valley region will see 139 paving projects in Boone, Clay, Kanawha, Mason, Putnam, Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo and Wayne counties. Ongoing projects include the paving of WV 10 in Logan County from Stollings to Melville. Completed projects in District 2 include 3.24 miles of R.A. West Highway in Mingo County, 2.02 miles of WV 37 in Wayne County and 1.61 miles of WV 34 in Lincoln County.
Additionally, 46 resurfacing projects are being funded in the eastern panhandle counties of Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral and Morgan. In the eastern part of West Virginia, 102 projects are taking place across Barbour, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, Webster, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Tucker, Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Nicholas and Summers counties.
In total, the 2024 supplemental budget appropriation will finance 499 paving projects, covering more than 973 miles of state roads not funded by federal highway funds. This funding is in addition to approximately $190 million in federal highway funds.
Pack emphasized the urgency of completing these projects. “Our shared goal is to accomplish as much of the work in an expedited manner so that our road users get to experience the improvements as soon as possible,” he said. “Resurfacing of a roadway is a vital part of the life cycle of our roadways and provides a smooth and structurally sound driving surface.”
State officials remind the public to prioritize safety in work zones by keeping “Heads up; phones down!” as paving work continues across all 55 counties.
