West Virginia’s roads are a tale of two realities. Scenic beauty and rugged terrain contrast sharply with crumbling asphalt and jagged rockslides. Potholes and rockslides aren’t just nuisances; they’re symptoms of a larger issue. WV’s infrastructure is crying out for attention.

Potholes damage vehicles, strain local economies, and pose safety risks. In WV, the story’s all too familiar. Front end repairs can run as high as $2,000 to repair damage caused by unseen road hazards. Flat tires are the most likely problem when hitting one of the road cavities. Busted tires can set you back another several hundred dollars or more, and then throw in another hundred for an alignment. All that on top of paying taxes for the roads we drive on.

Trying to avoid potholes puts everyone at risk, as drivers swerve to avoid hitting them.

Many roads date back to the mid-20th century, with inadequate maintenance, and many are not suitable for the heavy truck traffic in our area. Freeze-thaw cycles and heavy precipitation exacerbate wear and tear.

Limited budgets and competing priorities leave roads underfunded, with the same old story, “We don’t have the money in our budget.”

WV’s mountainous terrain makes rockslides a persistent threat. These events often strand communities and disrupt commerce. Falling rocks cause accidents and fatalities.

Clearing slides and stabilizing slopes strain resources. Rugged roads and slides delay travel, impacting work and life. Poor roads deter investment and hurt local businesses.

The safety concerns and solutions bring up a question. What comes first? Risking lives and injury, or increased funding.

Addressing WV’s potholes and rockslides requires prioritizing infrastructure in state budgets. Proactive maintenance, regular inspections and timely repairs should be number one when one thinks of the risk and costs to drivers and passengers.

Two dangerous areas continue to exist here locally despite repeated efforts from residents to find a solution. Number one seems to be the frequent slides between Paden City and Sistersville along Rt. 2. The DOH is well aware of the danger, yet no real action to remove it has occurred. Every passing truck and every train on the tracks causes vibrations that can loosen the overhanging rocks. Hopefully there will never be a disaster that would cause loss of life as school buses and other traffic carrying children travel the road frequently.

Another area of great concern is near the Wetzel County 4-H camp, where recent rockslides have been occurring, fortunately without any injuries.

Throughout the years we have heard from politicians that infrastructure is important. They make it a campaign issue during each election cycle. However, it’s frustrating when concerns fall flat. Infrastructure like potholes and rockslides have been persistent problems. When the erosion along hillsides gets dangerous there are solutions like anchoring, netting, and scaling which can secure unstable rocks. Installing barriers or catchments can help protect roads from falling rocks, while improving drainage systems can reduce erosion and rockslide risk.

The road to recovery isn’t easy, but with sustained effort, WV can transform its infrastructure crisis into an opportunity for growth and improvement, while protecting its citizens and children.