Could a tragic bridge collapse like the one in Minnesota happen here in West Virginia? Theoretically speaking, the catastrophic probability exists, but the odds are unlikely, according to Mike Clowser, executive director of the Contractors Association of West Virginia.
The Elkins/Randolph Chamber of Commerce approached the subject Wednesday as Executive Director Ellen Spears welcomed Clowser as guest speaker for an Eggs and Issues breakfast. Clowser is also heading up the West Virginians for Better Transportation, a statewide coalition of businesses, trade associations, chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus, community groups, local leaders, educators and many others. These groups have joined to express concerns about West Virginia’s transportation crisis and to call on state leaders to develop long-term solutions.
Developed by West Virginians for Better Transportation (WVBT), Keep West Virginia Moving (KWVM) is an education and outreach campaign with goals to educate key opinion leaders (community leaders, elected officials and others), the media and the general public regarding the benefits of and support for the continued construction and maintenance of a safe, modern surface transportation infrastructure and the benefits this brings to the state’s safety, employment and overall economy.
During his presentation to the Elkins/Randolph Chamber of Commerce, Clowser accentuated the positive in West Virginia, by conveying that the state is unique in its highway system. The WVDOH is one of four states in the nation that maintains all roads through the DOH. The only other states who share this unique trait are Delaware, North Carolina and Virginia.
“The Department of Highways is doing a great job with maintaining our road system in WestVirginia,” Clowser said.
But statistics would state otherwise. According to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, West Virginia ranks sixth in the nation with 37.3 percent of bridges deemed structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Of the 6,956 bridges in the state, 2,593 of those are not up to standard.
According to Clowser, the average age of West Virginia’s interstate bridges is 34 years and older bridges need significant repairs at approximately 50 years.
West Virginia is facing the dilemma of having to repair nearly half (46 percent) of its bridges by the year 2026.
Delegate Bill Hartman, D-37th District, inquired about Corridor H at the meeting.
“The corridor is very important to this area. There have been talks of it being a designated escape route for the president ... is that just ‘feel good’ material or is there any relevance to that?” he asked of Clowser.
Clowser indicated that to his knowledge, Corridor H projects in Grant County are complete except for the engineer permits, which have yet to be obtained.
West Virginia roads do not fare much better than its bridges.
According to Clowser’s presentation, 27 percent of W.V.a.’s major roads are in poor or mediocre condition and West Virginia leads the country in percentage of narrow roads with 67 percent of major roads being less than 10 feet wide.
In terms of interstates, nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of the state’s interstate highways will be in need of substantial rehabilitation or reconstruction.
Elkins Mayor Judy Guye is impressed with the aesthetic appeal of West Virginia’s highways. “As I travel around West Virginia, the highways are always lined with green grass and wildflowers. Our roads are very attractive and well maintained,” she said.
Local government, business and community leaders from throughout the state will be invited to attend a series of regional educational meetings to learn about the challenges facing West Virginia’s surface transportation system and to understand what the outlook is for transportation funding.
“The meetings are designed to educate local and community leaders about the state’s transportation system, its current and projected challenges and the financial plight facing the state Road Fund (now and future),” said Joe Deneault, chairman of West Virginians for Better Transportation.
“Local leaders and the public must fully understand the challenges facing the state and decide whether the current situation is acceptable or whether they are willing to work toward a long-term plan with adequate funding for our state’s transportation needs,” Deneault emphasized.