A couple of Harrison County spots were among the District 4 purchase order paving projects announced on Monday by Gov. Jim Justice and Department of Transportation officials during a press conference at North Central West Virginia Airport.

 

More than $20 million will be spent statewide in all 55 counties as part of the Governor’s Roads To Prosperity initiative.

 

A total of $2.6 million of that $20 million will go to District 4, which also includes Doddridge, Marion, Monongalia, Preston and Taylor counties.

For Harrison County it will be a 0.89 mile stretch on Big Elk Creek Road and a 0.23 mile stretch on Duncan Run.

 

“Not only are we going to complete $20 million-worth of paving projects, but we’re aiming to complete them within 45 days,” Justice said. “It’s absolutely unbelievable and I’m so proud of our Department of Transportation and all we’ve been able to accomplish thanks to our groundbreaking Roads To Prosperity program.”

 

West Virginia Department of Transportation Secretary Byrd White said these paving jobs were not part of bonds but aided by them.

 

“These are not bond jobs but understand that without the bonds taking care of other roads, we would not have had the money to do these roads,” Byrd said. “The bottom line is without the Governor’s vision and what he did by figuring how to issue bonds and not raise taxes and take care of that, it allowed us to do all these other jobs we are doing.”

 

Other District 4 purchase order paving jobs will be Slaughter Run Road in Doddridge County, Quaker Fork and Margaret in Marion County, Day Drook Road in Monongalia County, Brandonville Pike in Preston County and Bolyard Road in Taylor County.

 

In the past 16 months, more than 300 miles of District 4 roadways have been paved. Additionally, more than 3,000 miles-worth of patching has been completed in District 4 in the same time period.

 

DOT officials also highlighted the major projects that are under way or set to begin in District 4 including five in Harrison County — Walnut Hill slide, Shinnston Pike, Hideaway Road phase two, Horner Run OP Bridges and the I-79 northbound signing project which starts in Lewis County, goes through Harrison County and ends in Marion County.

 

“Governor Justice’s vision to make our roads better and his leadership in transportation infrastructure has not only allowed us to deliver on our goals for fixing roads, but has also allowed Secretary White and myself to restructure and get out even more projects,” DOT Deputy Secretary Jimmy Wriston said.

 

“It’s been a tough year as we’ve also had to adjust to the challenges brought forth by COVID-19. But we are staying busier than ever for the people of West Virginia and we are committed to getting this work done safely and efficiently.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows West Virginia Governor Jim Justice at Monday's press conference at North Central West Virginia Airport. Middle photo is of Department of Transportation Secretary Byrd White and bottom photo is of DOT Deputy Secretary Jimmy Wriston.