BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) - The West Virginia Department of Transportation is getting a jump on the mammoth task of repairing winter-ravaged roads across the state. Agency spokesman Brent Walker says asphalt plants began production three weeks earlier than usual because the harsh winter left more potholes than normal.
Walker doesn't know how many potholes are out there, but he says the state is full of them. In some areas the DOT is using a "shovel and run" strategy to plug potholes. That involves installing a temporary patch. But Walker says the temporary patches don't last long. In areas with heavy traffic, the DOH prefers a longer-lasting repair.
The state has set aside an extra $12 million for pothole repairs.