KINGWOOD — A design is under way to repair the slide on a section of W.Va. 72, south of Rowlesburg, according to Darby Clayton, acting West Virginia Division of Highways District 4 manager.
“The last time I talked to (DOH officials) they said they’ve been waiting for the last couple of months for an engineering report,” Preston County Commissioner Dave Price said. He said the slide, near Rowlesburg, is in a curve in the road and cannot be seen very well.
“They did put up stop signs that helped decrease some of the danger,” he said. “But I believe it is still dangerous.”
He said he does not blame local DOH employees for how long it is taking to repair county roads.
“They (DOH officials) admitted they can’t keep up with the problems we have with roads all over the state,” Price said. “There is not enough people and money. The solution has to come from the top.”
“Fixing this road (W.Va. 72) is a priority and is being addressed,” Clayton said. “We have beau coup slides in other areas of District 4 that are also being taken care of.”
Price said the North Central Caucus on Roads for WVDOH District 4, which consists of Preston, Monongalia, Harrison, Taylor, Marion and Doddridge counties will be submitting their resolution on road conditions at a January meeting in Morgantown. At the Monday meeting of the Preston County Commission, Commissioner Don Smith said emails would be sent to local legislators reminding them to attend the meeting.
“I appreciate people’s patience and want them to know we are taking these things (road problems and maintenance) very seriously,” Clayton said. He said he believed the slide on River Road in Monongalia County could have been caused by this year’s rainy season.
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