The state Division of Highways plans to spend $139 million for road paving this year, about double what it usually spends.
But with high fuel prices driving up the average cost of asphalt, the division only expects to pave about 4 percent of the state's 34,000 road miles, said spokesman Brent Walker.
"It certainly affects a lot of things," Walker said of the fuel prices. "We feel it, the asphalt companies feel it.
"It makes our paving program a little more costly. So in the end that really means fewer miles will be paved."
With a barrel of oil currently selling for more than $100, the price of asphalt has risen 72 percent over the last two years.
In April 2006, a ton of asphalt was selling for $274. The current price is $376 a ton, according to the DOH.
At this time six years ago, a ton of asphalt went for $164.
Regular gasoline and diesel prices also are at record levels. That affects the cost of running paving machinery and other road equipment.
A gallon of gas was going for $3.38 today in West Virginia. Diesel prices ranged from $4.07 a gallon to $4.49 a gallon.
Truck drivers planned to rally at the state Capitol today in protest of the high diesel prices.
One trucker told The Associated Press he estimated weekly fuel costs have jumped from $600 to $2,400 over the last eight years.
Walker was unable to equate how many fewer road miles the state will be able to pave because of the asphalt and fuel prices.
He said the plans are to pave 1,270 miles this season, which begins later this month and ends in the late summer.
About $50 million of this year's money comes from legislation passed last year that shifted some programs out of the state Road Fund to more appropriate funding sources, like the Courtesy Patrol and some State Police functions.
About $25 million of that was devoted to spring paving this year, Walker said. The state had anticipated spending the other $25 million for paving last fall, but decided to hold it over until this year.
Lawmakers last year also renewed the nickel-a-gallon gasoline tax, which puts more than $50 million into the Road Fund each year.
Walker said paving this season would be widespread.
"We certainly try to spread it out and use our dollars across the state," Walker said.
The first round of paving will include projects in just about all of the state's highways districts, Walker said.
Walker didn't have details on what portion of the total miles would be interstates and what portion would be state routes.
He did say that the majority of the projects involved state routes.
"We're trying to maintain an aggressive program," Walker said. "As long as we're able to fund it like this."
