WV Division of Highways and IOGAWV Present to Legislature on Road Use Issues
The State Journal reports that the West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Highways (DOH), recently presented to state lawmakers regarding West Virginia roadway issues. DOH showed pictures of roads in Ohio, Marshall and Ritchie Counties in an effort to demonstrate that problems with some West Virginia roads are attributable to the natural gas industry. DOH indicated that the problems are mostly the result of the utilization of secondary roads that were not constructed to handle the type or amount of vehicles and equipment being transported by the industry. DOH also said West Virginia appears to be the only state with a road maintenance policy. Charlie Burd, executive director of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia, also spoke to the lawmakers. Burd reported that the oil and gas industry began working voluntarily with DOH two or three years ago, and that the organizations often work together to resolve issues regarding West Virginia roads.