(Written by Joe Nelson)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Work continues to move forward on the West Virginia Department of Highways efforts to include private contractors to address Monongalia County roads.
State Senator Mike Oliverio updated the Monongalia County Commission on an agreement reached with the DOH and local contractor Anderson Excavating LLC. to address state run roads and medians in the county. As part of an approximately $2.2 million contract between the excavating firm and the DOH, Oliverio reported that motorists on heavy roads have already seen ditching work take place, with plans to expand on other county roads over the course of the summer.
“The transportation issue that we’ve been working on, the ditching done by private contractors, the contract that was let here in Monongalia County, was $2.2 million for Anderson Excavating, and they have begun the work,” said Oliverio on the update.
According to Oliverio, the agreement will have Anderson Excavating crews work on state run county roads, with the DOH involved in a supervisory role. This also allowed for immediate work on roads that are considered traffic heavy, with crews already on the ground to address ditching around US Route 119. Plans are in place to expand the ditching into roads heading into Morgantown and state run roads on the outskirts that have fallen into disrepair.
“They’re doing that ditching, and the arrangement with the Division of Highways is that they will inspect that work to ensure that it’s done to the standard of the DOH,” said Oliverio.
As work continues into the summer, Oliverio urged motorists to slow down as road crews work to have major connectors into Morgantown drivers ready in time for the start of West Virginia University’s fall semester in August. This includes work on Brockway Avenue coming from the Sabraton on/off ramp on Interstate 68, which had road crews ditching on Friday and Saturday. With emergency crews responding to everyday calls and Anderson Excavating employees working within inches of motorists, Oliverio calls for caution on the roads.
“These workers are, honestly, performing ditching often times on both sides of the road, amidst, sometimes, heavy traffic,” said Oliveiro in his caution to motorists.
Oliverio also called for an open line for deputies of the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department to assist in road safety, which was openly and unanimously endorsed by members of the commission. Anderson Excavating employees will also have the chance to use DOH resources to allow for extra equipment to be used and expedite work that could take weeks on a single project. With Oliverio hoping to explore any safety precautions as part of the DOH agreement, he endorses any local resources that the commission would consider.
“I don’t know if they necessarily have all the resources that the DOH has, but just something to look into if the Sheriff’s Office can provide support, I’d like to see that,” Oliverio said.