Heavy truck traffic is continuing to ruin the roads of Wetzel county, with the current focus on American Ridge Road, causing  it to deteriorate into a gravel road.  Each driller is to get bonding to cover damages. Under the state’s new “Oil and Gas Policy,” drillers are required to post an additional $1 million road bond to operate in West Virginia. The bond would only be $250,000 if the company chose to operate just in District 6, which includes Wetzel, Tyler, Marshall, Ohio, Brooke and Hancock counties.

American Ridge resident Jim Holler said the drillers need to address these matters sooner rather than later. “It’s not just the dust and the potholes that concern the citizens living along this road as much as it is the lack of concern for the residents to fix the major safety issues exhibited by the gas company,” said Holler. “What will it take to push this company to fix the roads? Maybe, it’s time the state revokes their bond, shutting down their operations until these roads are repaired and at least brought back to the asphalt state they were before they began.”

The district highway engineer says that Stone Energy is expected to pay for road damages, that Chesapeake Energy has been upgrading roads in Wetzel county and CONSOL (incl. CNX Gas) is repairing roads in the northern panhandle.

Generally, roads and bridges in West Virginia are in need of better maintenance. Dashle Kelly, a doctoral fellow at WVU, has proposed that WV implement user fees on the roads throughout the State to collect adequate monies to repair and maintain the roads and bridges.  He says that the existing Road Fund has been depleted so not enough current tax revenue is available.

In fact, as reported earlier here, the Morgantown Industrial Park road is in such poor condition that the local newspaper in its September 1, 2011 editorial said that the “industrial park road cannot wait until next year for repairs.”  In addition to pavement wear, there is subsidence of the ground under the road as a result of the weight of the vehicles and as a result of natural slippage.

EDITORIAL: MORGANTOWN DOMINION POST, September 1, 2011
 
Industriousness lacking in DOH?
 

Industrial Park Road’s condition cannot wait until next year for repairs to begin
 

Industrial strength vehicles are well advised on Industrial Park Road. Technically known as Monongalia County Route 19/19, which intersects with River Road (Monongalia County Route 45), its first 2,000 feet is the responsibility of the state Division of Highways (DOH). This road features its share of potholes, like most secondary roads, but its condition appears to be off the charts. Though last week’s 5.8 earthquake played no role in this road’s warped surface, it looks to be what you would expect from a natural disaster. For now, the DOH is evaluating this road’s condition by surveying the area, taking soil and rock samples, and then determining what to do.

We realize engineering plans cannot be drafted overnight and actual construction can be complex. But all too often, we get the impression the DOH doesn’t usually operate with a sense of urgency. We wouldn’t describe its approach as nonchalance, either. However, if we were to liken its technique to a speed limit, it would be about 30 miles per hour. Of course, most projects come down to time and money — and mostly money. But when roadways that access vital developments are in this condition with winter is looming larger by the week, something needs to be done. Far be it from us to pretend we know what that something is, but it’s self-evident that we need to get beyond the evaluation process.

Our chief concern is that this project might follow some timelines for road repairs in the recent past. For instance, in fall 2008 a stretch of River Road began cracking and slipping toward the Monongahela River. That portion of road — relatively near Industrial Park Road — was closed in December 2008 and did not reopen until late spring 2010. Even worse, River Road started slipping again this spring in the same location that was repaired a year ago. Admittedly, West Virginia’s topography presents great challenges to any engineer or highway worker. It comes with the turf.

However, like any operation, there should be a triage approach to integral roadways in our state. For now, Industrial Park Road may just present a major inconvenience. It’s still passable. But does anyone think it’s going to get better? The freeze and thaw cycle of winter is certain to devastate this road. Needless to say, this road is the only one that leads to the Morgantown Industrial Park, which is a hive of industry in this area. Now, it’s time the DOH showed some industriousness of its own there.