CHARLESTON, W.Va. — While the State Department of Highways took heat all summer over road conditions, the summer paving program in the city of Charleston has hummed along without much trouble.
“It’s been better this year,” said City Engineer Chris Knox. “Usually there’s a holdup on the milling process and it’s hard to get a milling machine to a certain location, but we’ve worked well this year with West Virginia Paving.”
Crews have resurfaced about 30 miles of roads in the city and have several more on the drawing board before wrapping up the season. Knox hopes they’ll be able to finish the season around mid-September.
“We’re probably a million-five in and have another million to go,” said Knox.
Among the major projects this year was Quarrier Street, Edgewood Drive, and 50th Street in Kanawha City. Knox said right now they are working on paving the entire length of Ravina Road from Oakwood to Bridge Road.
“We’re going to do Smith Road, we just installed a storm sewer from Lucado to where the state takes over at Sierra,” said Knox. “We’re going to do Louden Heights, we just installed a retaining wall above the Olsen Bridge, so from the Olsen Bridge to Bridge Road will be resurfaced.”
Damage from last winter to the city streets was worse than normal, according to Knox, but he said they have been able to repair the biggest portion of the damage.