West Virginia Division of Highways crews are continuing to work around the clock with approximately 1,000 snowplows to maintain the state’s highway system in the wake of Winter Storm Blair, while also preparing for a second round of winter weather this weekend.

West Virginia Department of Transportation Secretary Jimmy Wriston, P.E., said those working to clear the roadways have displayed a high level of skill and dedication to the job in order to clear the roads in a deliberate and safe manner.

“It takes a certain mentality to be really good at this, and I can’t say this enough, you have to be deliberate,” Wriston said. “I’m glad that I have the opportunity to get out there and show those guys that do it – and have worked all night as hard as they can work – that we support them, we care about them and they are doing a great job.”

On January 7, 2025, WVDOH crews began shifting their focus to clearing secondary roads in the West Virginia highway system after working diligently to clean up primary roadways that were impacted by snow and ice accumulation earlier in the week.

“We prioritize the roads and then we follow the plan. Crews have the primary routes cleared, and have moved to the secondary,” Wriston said. “They practice their routes in November before the first snow, so they know where obstacles such as mailboxes and culverts will be.”

All roads maintained by the WVDOH fit into one of four priorities and are addressed as storm conditions dictate. Once priority 1 routes are accessible, they move to priority 2 and 3 routes. As snow returns, the return to the priority 1 routes.

• Priority 1 routes include Interstate, Expressway, National Highway System, and all other United States and West Virginia routes. Some Priority 1 routes also include high-traffic county routes.
• Priority 2 routes are all other school bus routes that are not considered Priority 1.
• Priority 3 routes are the remaining routes, not including park and forest routes.
• Priority 4 routes are park and forest routes.

The WVDOT started the year with a stockpile of approximately 231,000 tons of salt statewide and will replenish the supply as necessary. The amount of salt on hand is based on the average amount of salt the agency has used each year over the past 10 years.

“If you need to be out on the roads, be deliberate, be methodical and be safe,” said Wriston. “Just like these wonderful transportation workers.”