We can’t just take our time to repair, maintain the roads

Roundabouts,  Emergency Road Assessments and W.Va. 26 paving, oh my.
Much like driving, time seems to pass  at different speeds on different roads.
No, not just the result of speed limits and traffic but much  more so on the condition of the road.
Daily, minutes on these roads can  seem like hours depending on their conditions. And then suddenly, another year has flown by and we’re stuck with the same bad roads.
For now, we decline to take a position on the potential detriment or improvement to W.Va. 7 and Green Bag Road (CR 857) as a result of two planned roundabouts.
In general, we favor roundabouts, but the Mileground/W.Va. 705 intersection gave us pause for reflection on how much it really helped ease congestion.
Meanwhile, the DOH is planning  to redesign the roundabout off I-79’s Exit 153, just a little bit  more than two years since it opened.
Then there’s the proposed Collins Ferry/University Avenue roundabout that still has yet to win much popular support for its construction.
Lately, we’re also a little perplexed by the recent tours given to local lawmakers by road experts.
To these road experts’ credit they are preparing a major report on Monongalia County’s extremely poor road conditions — at no cost for legislators’ information.
Yet, all one need do is drive on these roads to immediately realize something is terribly wrong with them.
These roads are well beyond studies and reports. As to which are  priorities, it  seems like almost all of them qualify in terms of repair needs and extreme distress.
And to the credit of a combination of state Division of Highways’ and private contractors’ efforts, repairs and paving along W.Va. 26 in Preston County are set to soon be complete.
This truly is a hint of progress, but most residents of this region and here still cannot understand why it took so long.
Of course, most road projects and repairs either happen too fast or not fast enough for most.
But what concerns us is that we are yet to see any highly visible repairs or construction underway in Monongalia County. Yes, we know the Mileground was paved but the drainage issues along it  still pose a big problem.
There was also some hit-and-miss pothole patching locally. Many of the more dangerous potholes were patched but will likely need to be filled again before summer arrives.
We urge the DOH, private contractors and the governor to not expect time to wait on them to improve area road conditions. There must be a  sense of urgency.
Because if they  idle, any momentum and opportunity we have now will be up the road, too.