WVDOH crews rebuild washed-out roads, bridges following late June floods

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) road crews were assessing damage, digging out, and making repairs following heavy rains that began Monday, June 22.

In Boone County, work crews from WVDOH District 1 were on the site of a series of road washouts on James Branch Road near Wharton, where heavy localized rains led to flooding.

“The roadway up and down this area, this holler, has been undercut tremendously by the creek,” said Transportation Secretary Todd Rumbaugh, who was on James Branch with WVDOH crews to see the damage for himself. “There are some areas that it’s even dangerous to be on the road at all.

“It’s a sad tragedy that things like this happen,” Rumbaugh said. “The folks up here, I know they’re dying to get in and out, but thankfully, they’re being great to work with and gracious to allow us to get in here and get this work done so we can get them access back, get their lives back to normal.”

On Tuesday, June 23, and Wednesday, June 24, crews from District 1 were hauling in load after load of rock to rebuild the roadbed under James Branch Road where rushing waters washed it out.

“We have seven trucks hauling shot rock in here to stabilize the creek bank, to reinforce the roadway so it’ll be safe to travel on,” said District 1 Maintenance Assistant Russell Hoover. “We’re trying to get the road opened up to where the residents in here can safely get out.”

Hoover said it was important to get James Branch Road reopened to allow emergency service vehicles and utility vehicles in, and to let residents who need supplies to get out.

Several roads and bridges near Wharton were damaged by flooding. At Shawnee Trail, just off WV 85, a bridge had been ripped from its abutments and thrown into the water like a rag doll. And on nearby Cow Creek Road, pavement had been peeled up and shredded when floodwaters turned the road into a river.

With work continuing in all 55 counties across the state, the West Virginia Division of Highways and the West Virginia Department of Transportation remind the public of the importance of keeping everyone safe in work zones. “Safe actions save lives!”