{Charleston,
West Virginia}…According to preliminary recommendations from Governor Earl Ray
Tomblin's Blue Ribbon Commission on Highways, West Virginia should spend an
additional $1.1 billion each year to preserve and expand its highway system. The
12-member infrastructure committee voted 9-3 in favor of recommending that the
state spend an additional $750 million a year on maintenance designed to
preserve current state roads and an additional $380 million a year on expansion
projects. The committee estimated it would cost about $400 million each year to
maintain the current quality of state roads and prevent further deterioration. Joe
Denault, who is chairman of West Virginians
for Better Transportation, says the high price tag is due to the fact that the
state has not been able to pay for proper care of its roads over the years.
