WINTER HIGHWAY COSTS EXCEED $50 MILLION - Calhoun Has Three Road Projects

(04/23/2003)
Potholes are a top priority this year for the West Virginia Department of Highways, with county road projects on a short list.

Three projects are currently on the map for Calhoun, rock and stabilization for Sears Run and Meadow Run, and hot mix leveling for a section of Klipstine Road.

Roane County will have a bridge replacement across Spring Creek.

Gilmer County will have 2.25 miles of Cox's Mill-Linn Road resurfaced.

Braxton will have 5.25 miles of resurfacing in Servia-Frametown section of I-79.

West Virginia roads have taken a beating this past winter, including damages from the February ice storm and floods.

Last winter was the most costly ever for the state Department of Transportation, with final bills totaling $45.6 million with the state planning to spend only 25 million dollars.

The state also had to pay another $18.6 million to fix road slides and other damages caused by February's ice storm and floods.

Carl Thompson, a deputy state highways engineer, says highway officials are making dangerous road hazards a top priority. He says the budget is being adjusted to do so. Transportation officials say they won't be able to do as much paving work this summer as they normally do.