CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The winter of 2013-14 so far has been one of the most difficult in a while for West Virginia. Snowplow drivers have been in the cab of the truck chasing the scraper blade almost non stop in recent weeks somewhere in West Virginia.
The impact of the weather has also started to put a dent into stockpiles of salt at Department of Highways stockpiles across West Virginia.
“It’s not a crises for us, but we have started asking our districts what they think they’ll need to get through this season,” said Department of Transportation Spokesman Brent Walker said. “Sure some areas are running lower than others, but we’ve got plans in place to move the salt where we need to should another major event come.”
The state Department of Transportation started the year with about 160,000 tons and has had to order more. The state has used more than 236,000 tons of salt on nearly 36,000 miles of highway. So far the department has spent 77 percent of the 55 million dollar budget for snow removal.
“A lot of it has been used, but we’ll just wait and see,” Walker said. “We just don’t think this winter can continue the way it’s been. Every winter we can remember there’s been a break, and we’re certainly due a break.”