MORGANTOWN – West Virginia Division of Highways District 4 Manager Earl Gaskins said Anderson Excavating is gearing up to begin clearing about 75 miles of Monongalia County roads this winter.
The company was awarded a contract on Nov. 21 in response to the passage of HB2960 during the most recent session of the West Virginia Legislature. The new law provides the framework for a two-year pilot program through which the WVDOH shall seek private vendors to assist SRIC (snow removal & ice control) efforts in Monongalia and Preston counties.
“As far as we’re concerned, everything on our end has been completed. We’re just waiting on them. They’ve got to buy the salt and get a few things ready, but they’re working on that, and the minute they’re ready to roll, we will accommodate – hopefully within the next week or two,” Gaskins said. “Then, what we’ll do is anytime there’s a storm event, we’ll dispatch them just like we do our guys.”
Anderson Excavating’s work will be focused in specific areas, which include portions of Cheat Road; Tyrone Road; Kingwood Pike; Stewartstown Road; West Virginia 7 and U.S. 119, among others.
The contractor will be paid by weather event worked, up to an accumulated total not to exceed $3 million for the winter.
While Gaskins conceded there’s no predicting the weather, he noted “it would take a heck of a winter,” to hit that threshold, at which point the contracted services would cease.
As with all pilot programs, Gaskins said the DOH will be monitoring the cost and effectiveness of using an outside vendor throughout the two-year program.
The process is not dissimilar to the 2024 initiative to contract some ditching and maintenance work – an idea the DOH previously resisted. Anderson Excavating received a $2.2 million contract last year to take on ditching work in Monongalia, Preston and Harrison counties.
“Our goal is always to serve the community, and we’ll try any efforts we can. If we have an option out there to better serve the citizens and get the roads treated quickly and make it safer for everybody, then we’re going to take advantage of that. That’s really the agency and our elected officials working together to try to come up with solutions to serve our communities,” Gaskins said.
He noted that much of the discussion regarding outside contractors began when the DOH was facing lingering staffing issues.
“We’ve been able to fill those staff shortages,” Gaskins said. “However, the need is always there. Anytime you can treat the roads faster, the better off you are. There’s always going to be a need to treat the roads quickly.”
There were no successful bidders for the Preston County work following the state’s initial request. A second bid window for that work ends today.
House Bill 2960 was sponsored by delegates Dave McCormick, Joe Statler and Geno Chiarelli, of Monongalia County, and George Street and Rolland “Buck” Jennings, of Preston County.
