Morrisey highlights investment in roads, promises quick pothole paving across West Virginia

by Amelia Ferrell Knisely, West Virginia Watch
April 28, 2026

Gov. Patrick Morrisey ceremoniously signed legislation Tuesday aimed at bolstering work zone safety while promising that potholes across West Virginia will be filled in by May.

The governor said state roadworkers are on target to hit that goal.

“I’m going to tell the public we’re doing our best to get every pothole paved by the end of May,” Morrisey said. “Since January of this year, we’ve already patched more than 18,000 miles of potholes.”

Morrisey held a press conference at Triton Construction in St. Albans, where he outlined his administration’s efforts to improve the state’s transportation system. 

A $125 million investment requested by Morrisey during the legislative session is supporting more than 350 projects and over 580 miles of paving, his office said.

“This game changer allows us to move immediately on slip repairs, potholes and spring paving to fix the damage left behind by a very tough winter in transportation,” said Stephen T. Rumbaugh, secretary of the West Virginia Department of Transportation.

During the recent legislative session, lawmakers said they’d invested more than $2 billion in roads and infrastructure this year in West Virginia.

West Virginia has one of the largest state-owned highway systems in the country, with more than 38,000 miles of public roads and over 7,000 bridges. The system has significant maintenance demands across the state’s mountainous terrain.

A 2025 report, published by the American Society of Civil Engineers’ West Virginia Section, showed the state had an average of a “D+” grade for its infrastructure. The study’s category included roads and bridges.

“We’re making progress, and not just on the large bridges, all the names you know, but some of the smaller bridges that have been left and they were antiquated for a long time,” Morrisey said. “We’re working hard on that, and it’s not easy, but it’s an important task, and that’s part of the reason I was so focused on providing the extra resources to fill in the potholes, pave the roads and make a big difference here in West Virginia.”

Increased fines for speeding, phone use in work zones

Morrisey highlighted two pieces of legislation at the event, including House Bill 4538, which increases penalties for speeding and distracted driving in active work zones when workers are present.

“The fines that were around $200 can now reach up to $500 for some lower level violations, and up to $1,000 more for serious speeding offenses,” Morrisey said. “The bill is also going to increase some penalties for behaviors like texting while driving or ignoring a flagman. When drivers ignore these warnings, they’re putting lives at risk, and if you’re going to make that choice, there’ll be consequences and accountability.”

Rumbaugh said that the governor was “sending a powerful message to the men and women on our crews and on the industries (that) your safety is top priority.”

Senate Bill 692 authorizes the use of green flashing lights on Division of Highways vehicles to improve visibility during road work and snow removal.

Morrisey asked residents to call 1-833-WV-ROADS to report potholes to the Department of Transportation.

“We’re going to try to get to your street as quickly as we can, but let us know,” he said.

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