CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice said Monday passage of the nearly $4 billion Roads to Prosperity bond program seven years ago changed the trajectory of the state.
“You can mark it down and if you choose to do it, there is no holiday better than October the 7th,” Justice said before a large crowd of state Division of Highway workers gathered for the celebration on the north steps of the state capitol.
The program was approved by 73% of those casting ballots in 2017, nine months after Justice took office. It gave the state authority to to sell bonds to finance the construction. The state will pay the money back over several years. Some DMV fees were raised to help with those payments. The program also includes federal highway construction money.
The initiative has completed or started work on nearly all of its planned projects, Justice said.
“We have 1,320 projects. We have begun work on all but 10 of those projects.”
Secretary of Transportation Jimmy Wriston said taking that many projects off the back burner has served as a catalyst.
“Not only did it revitalize our Department of Transportation, and you’ve all reaped the rewards of that, you’ve all seen the return on your investment for that, but it has benefited the entire state by touching every life, every West Virginia citizen in this state,” Wriston said.
Secretary of Tourism Chelsea Ruby said the infrastructure-building project is directly related and is a huge part of the states tourism industry.
“Today we celebrate those roads; we advertise those roads. They are a key component of our tourism marketing strategy,” Ruby said.
Justice said the final 10 projects are prepared to start and will be getting underway shortly.
Monday’s celebration included hundreds of DOH workers who held up signs representing the individual projects. They were also treated to a reception at the state Culture Center and given a commemorative medal in connection with the occasion.
Reporter Eymah Fortenberry contributed to this story.