The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Wyoming Report

February 11, 2010

Snow removal expenditures exceed $800,000

By Mary Catherine Brooks

This winter has cost the Wyoming County Division of Highways just over $800,000 for snow and ice removal — more than any other year, according to Oliver Stewart, DOH county supervisor.

That total reflects work through Tuesday and does not include Wednesday’s major snow storm.

“And we’re only about half way through the season,” Stewart said, adding there are snows in March and sometimes in April.

As of Tuesday, District 10, which includes Wyoming County, has run up a bill of $4.5 million for snow and ice removal, also a record, Stewart emphasized.

Last year, snow and ice removal cost Wyoming County a total of $370,000; the previous year, the total tab was $200,000.

The closet winter to this one occurred in 1996-97, Stewart said. That winter cost Wyoming County DOH just over $600,000 and the district, $3 million.

Stewart said his men have worked 24/7, without a break, since mid-January.

“This is hard on the equipment as well,” he explained. “Two of my trucks are limping along right now.”

Typically, DOH trucks do slide into the ditches during major snow storms, but no major damage has resulted this year, he said.

The West Virginia Division of Highways’ main focus is maintaining roadways to protect the safety of the motoring public.

In cold weather months that means snow removal and ice control.

In warm weather, the focus is core maintenance — mowing, dragging ditches, and patching potholes, Stewart explained.

Just as the core maintenance program is coordinated during warm weather, snow removal and ice control is completed on a priority basis determined by the traffic flow on the road.

In other words, the most heavily traveled roads get the most attention in winter or summer.

The county has about 150 miles of primary roads and another 250 miles of secondary routes that are treated as primary routes, Stewart explained.

In Wyoming County, the roads with the heaviest traffic count are US 52, followed by state Rts. 54, 85, 10, 16, 97, and 971.

The remaining 100 miles of secondary routes receive the winter treatment as soon as the most heavily traveled routes are completed.

Still another 150 miles of low priority routes, such as forest and park roads, fall to the bottom of the list.

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