WHARTON, W.Va. — The state Division of Highways has crews working in Boone County to examine and repair damage caused by heavy rains and flooding Monday night.
West Virginia Transportation Secretary Todd Rumbaugh joined WVDOH District 1 work crews on James Branch Road near Wharton on Tuesday and Wednesday. Rumbaugh said the rains had a severe impact in that area.
“The roadway up and down this area, this holler, has been undercut tremendously by the creek,” Rumbaugh said. “There are some areas that it’s even dangerous to be on the road at all.”
The DOH said District 1 crews worked tirelessly Tuesday and Wednesday to rebuild the James Branch Road roadbed — which had been washed away by waters earlier in the week. District 1 Maintenance Assistant Russell Hoover was part of the team working.
“We have seven trucks hauling shot rock in here to stabilize the creek bank, to reinforce the roadway so it’ll be safe to travel on,” Hoover said. “We’re trying to get the road opened up to where the residents in here can safely get out.”
It was necessary to reopen James Branch Road, Hoover said. He noted that emergency service and utility vehicles, along with residents in search of supplies, needed to use the road as soon as possible.
The DOH reported multiple roads and bridges in the Wharton area sustained flooding damage, including a bridge at Shawnee Trail near West Virginia Route 85. The DOH said it was “ripped from its abutments and thrown into the water like a rag doll.” Also in that area, Cow Creek Road suffered pavement peeling when floodwaters raged through the road.
“It’s a sad tragedy that things like this happen,” Rumbaugh said. “The folks up here, I know they’re dying to get in and out, but thankfully, they’re being great to work with and gracious to allow us to get in here and get this work done so we can get them access back, get their lives back to normal.”