By Charles Young, WV News
BRIDGEPORT (WV News) — Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced a shift in priorities for the West Virginia Department of Transportation during a press event Monday, focusing on maintenance over new construction.
The governor said the DOT will prioritize pothole patching, road paving and bridge repairs, with a new goal of reducing the number of structurally deficient bridges in the state to below 10% by 2028.
“Today, I’ve directed the Department of Transportation to start a new project list that assesses the need for repair and replacement of bridges and highways statewide, that will prioritize the order of the projects to be completed,” Morrisey said. “Right now, maintenance is going to come first. That’s critical. We have to patch potholes, we have to pave roads, and we have to fix bridges.”
Currently, about 14% of the state’s bridges are rated in “poor” condition, he said.
