The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) has announced "Operation R.I.P. Potholes", an initiative aimed at repairing potholes across the Mountain state.
WVDOH has made arrangements with asphalt plants in Princeton, and Morgantown to open on Monday, February 5, 2024 to build on the momentum from the opening of a plant in Poca the week of January 29.
The early opening will allow the WVDOH and its contractors to make hot mix pothole repairs in southern and north central West Virginia.
“Our partners in the asphalt industry are cooperating with us to open during the off-season to provide us with hot asphalt to make needed repairs,” said Joe Pack, P.E., WVDOH chief engineer of operations, in a statement.
A recent freeze/thaw cycle of snow and cold temperatures, followed by warm temperatures and rain, has wreaked havoc on West Virginia Roads. WVDOH road crews have been patching potholes with cold asphalt throughout the winter, but these repairs are only temporary. What the WVDOH and contractors need to make permanent pothole repairs is hot asphalt.
The WVDOH and its contractors depend on asphalt plants throughout the state to provide asphalt for paving and patching. Those plants shut down during the winter for maintenance and usually don’t reopen until spring.
However, with a recent stretch of warmer weather, the WVDOH has negotiated with several asphalt plants to open temporarily to make needed pothole repairs now rather than in a few months.
An asphalt plant in Poca opened on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, allowing the WVDOH and contractors to make permanent, hot asphalt patches on interstates, roads, and work zones in Kanawha, Boone, Clay, Putnam, Mason, Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, and Wayne counties.
WVDOH has plans to continue Operation R.I.P Potholes throughout the year.
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Source: West Virginia Department of Transportation
