The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) will be opening asphalt plants in Princeton, and Morgantown today to allow the agency to make pothole repairs.
The Poca plant, which opened Jan. 30, will allow the WVDOH and its 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.
The Princeton plant will allow for patching in McDowell, Mercer, Raleigh, Wyoming, Monroe, Summers, and Fayette counties.
The Morgantown plant will allow for patching in Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, and Taylor counties.
In areas of the state where hot mix is not yet available, maintenance crews will conduct patching with temporary methods.
Asphalt plants shut down during the winter for maintenance and normally do not reopen until spring, but a recent freeze/thaw cycle of snow and very cold temperatures followed by warm temperatures and rain, has caused problems on roadways statewide.
“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,” Joe Pack, WVDOH chief engineer of operations, said.
Hot asphalt is necessary to make pothole repairs permanent. During winter, cold asphalt is used for temporary repairs.