PAINT CREEK, W. Va.– A particular stretch of the West Virginia Turnpike was given some extra attention Monday by the state Division of Highways (DOH).
Crews with the DOH spent the day running friction tests on the road surface on the Turnpike near the Sharon and Paint Creek Exits, the location of several accidents in recent weeks.
“We get an idea of the layout of that asphalt and make sure that it hasn’t polished too soon and just to try to figure out why we’re having so many accidents in that area,” said state DOH spokesman Brent Walker.
In the past couple weeks, a total of four wrecks have taken place on that stretch of the Turnpike, which was replaced just last year.
Walker said some people are blaming excessive speed for the wrecks, but adds that they don’t want to presume that it’s just a speed issue.
“That would be the easiest thing to say that it’s a result of excessive speed but we want to be on the safe side and make sure that it’s not something else,” he said.
Friction tests were completed by Monday evening and early indications were there may be some overly slippery areas. If that proves to be the case, Walker said they will be making some changes.
“We can grind it down, we could do a couple things in order to provide better traction to travelers ,” adds Walker.
DOH technicians will compile the numbers from the tests and have clearer results by the end of the week.