The snow has receded, warmer weather has arrived - even if just temporarily - and life is getting back to normal in the Eastern Panhandle, especially for motorists. However, it's not easy street just yet. Drivers still are having to carefully navigate the region's roadways. This time, instead of narrowly missing gigantic piles of snow and ice, they must avoid the pothole-riddled stretches of pavement that are in abundance in the area. It seems we just can't win. The good news, though, is that State Department of Transportation and Division of Highways officials already are working to combat the seasonal problem, District Engineer/Manager Lee Thorne said. Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox recently announced the availability of $12 million to be used statewide for pothole repairs, and there are numerous roads in this area that are in need of attention.
The bad news is that the money isn't in hand, and it's not clear how it will be distributed once it arrives, Thorne told The Journal earlier this week. So often, when it comes to our region's importance in relation to Charleston and the southern part of the state, the Eastern Panhandle feels like an unwanted relative at a family reunion. We're separated by the physical barrier of geography and by the political barrier of party affiliation when the delegation doesn't work well together. That means we often come up short when funds are allocated or projects are approved. We hope history doesn't repeat itself when it comes to funding road repairs in our neck of the woods this time around.
Thorne said he would like to see each of the 10 transportation districts in the Mountain State receive an equal allotment of the $12 million. We're doubtful that's going to occur. One suggestion is for the funds to be doled out based upon the amount of road surface in each county. Berkeley County has 637 miles of roads, Thorne said. Add Jefferson and Morgan counties to the mix and the total would represent a significant stretch of roadway, which should translate to significant financial support from the state.
Further, the Eastern Panhandle received more than 53 inches of snow last month alone, making it among the hardest hit areas of the state this winter in terms of inclement weather. It stands to reason then that the damage here is going to be more extensive than in other regions of West Virginia, and so the funding should be greater, too.
Repairs are under way to help restore the local roadways, and priorities are being established for fixing potholes, said DOH Berkeley County Administrator Ronnie Allen. We're glad to see this move forward, but local drivers will have to be patient during what likely will be a lengthy repair season. We urge them to call the DOH at 304-267-0060 during regular business hours to report the location of potholes in the region. With successful reporting of the problem areas and adequate funding, we forecast that happier days are ahead.