State Awards Nearly $2 Million in Road Repairs After February Floods
The West Virginia Division of Highways announced on Nov. 3 a special bid letting that awarded six repair projects in McDowell County tied to flood damage from February. The work, totaling just under $2 million, aims to restore safe travel and normal access on several key local corridors.
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On Nov. 3 the West Virginia Division of Highways issued a special bid letting that awarded multiple repair contracts in McDowell County to address damage sustained during February flooding. The awards cover slope stabilization, resurfacing and guardrail work on local roads and state routes and total $1,972,557.50.
The largest single award was $481,669 for a piling wall slide repair on WV 103. Other awards include micropile slide repair, resurfacing and guardrail installation on Panther Mohawk Road for $442,090; micropile slide repair and resurfacing on WV 83 for $387,456.50; micropile slide repair and resurfacing on WV 80 near Bradshaw for $277,818; micropile slide repair and resurfacing on Black Diamond Highway for $183,576; and a second piling wall slide repair on WV 83 for $199,948. State highway officials said the awards aim to restore safe travel and normal access in flood-damaged corridors.
The projects focus on two common post-flood interventions. Micropile installations provide deep, reinforced supports that stabilize slopes and foundations where soil movement has undermined roadways. Piling wall repairs rebuild and reinforce retaining structures that failed or were compromised by floodwaters. Both approaches are intended to reduce the likelihood of future slides and reopen routes that have been restricted or unsafe since the floods.
For McDowell County residents, the work is significant for everyday mobility and public safety. WV 83, WV 80 and WV 103 link communities, school transportation routes and commercial traffic; Panther Mohawk Road and Black Diamond Highway serve as local connectors that residents use for commuting, emergency services and deliveries. Restoring these corridors will reduce detours, shorten emergency response times and support local businesses that rely on passable roads.
The special bid letting is a procurement mechanism often used to expedite repairs after emergency events, enabling state crews and contractors to begin work sooner than through standard bidding schedules. While the Division of Highways has released the award amounts and project scopes, the agency has not provided a public timeline for when construction will start or be completed. Residents should expect that some work may require temporary lane closures, weight restrictions or detours as crews carry out stabilization and resurfacing.
Local officials and county agencies will be responsible for coordinating traffic advisories and public notifications as projects move forward. McDowell County residents seeking updates should monitor Division of Highways announcements and county communications for specific schedules and traffic impacts. The infusion of nearly $2 million into flood recovery for critical roadways marks a step toward restoring normal access and reducing the long-term disruption caused by February’s flooding.
