CHARLESTON – Replacing a bridge in Barbour County and paving in Tucker County are among 18 construction project contracts awarded by the West Virginia Division of Highways this week.

The contract for replacement of the Zebs Run Arch Bridge in Barbour County was awarded to Rock Forge Bridge Company LLC with a low bid of $917,274.04.

In Tucker County, the J.F. Allen Company was the low bidder, at $458,838.80, on a paving project on WV 38, from Hobson Run to Clover Run Road.

Among the other bridge projects awarded were a renovation project on the Little Sandy Creek Bridge on Interstate 79 near Elkview; an expansion joint replacement and deck overlay on the Cow Creek Overpass Bridge on Interstate 64 in Cabell County; and replacement of a bridge washed out by flooding in McDowell County.

The contracts were awarded Tuesday, after a bid letting conducted on April 14.

When Gov. Patrick Morrisey appointed Todd Rumbaugh as state transportation secretary in January 2025, he asked that Rumbaugh adopt a “back to basics” approach to maintaining the Mountain State’s roads and bridges, a DOH press release states.

 “Our focus will remain on preserving our existing system, maintaining the roads and bridges that West Virginians count on every day, and ensuring the safety of the traveling public and the strength of our workforce,” Rumbaugh said.

 State Bridge Engineer Tracy Brown agreed, saying, “Gov. Morrisey has put an emphasis on keeping and maintaining our existing bridge infrastructure. We’re trying to address our bridges that are in good and fair shape and keep them that way.”

Other construction contracts awarded include:

West Virginia Paving Inc. was the low bidder on a paving project on WV 12 from Cashmere to Ballard, with a bid of $1,149,661.73, in Monroe County.

Steve Marks Construction LLC, DBA Marks Drilling, was the low bidder on a slide repair project on O’Brion Creek Road in Clay County, with a bid of $94,256.50.

IVS Hydro Inc. was the low bidder on an expansion joint replacement and bridge deck overlay project on the I-64 Cow Creek Overpass Bridge in Cabell County, with a bid of $1,312,921.85.

Thaxton Construction Company Inc., of Sissonville, was the low bidder on a piling wall slip repair project on Aarons Fork Road in Kanawha County, with a bid of $139,945.

West Virginia Paving Inc. was the low bidder on a paving project on WV 20 in Nicholas County, from Leivasy to Grassy Falls, with a bid of $770,621.82.

R.K. Construction Inc. was the low bidder on a replacement project for the Butchers Run Truss Bridge, with a bid of $1,419,276.59. (Gilmer County)

Strawser Construction Inc. was the low bidder on a micro-surfacing project on WV 20, from Bluewell to Princeton in Mercer County, with a bid of $1,689,421.80.

Catts Construction Inc. was the low bidder on a bridge renovation project on the Little Sandy Creek Bridge in Kanawha County, with a bid of $15,750,110.85.

West Virginia Paving Inc. was the low bidder on a paving project on WV 61 in Fayette County, from Ingram Branch to Kincaid, with a bid of $2,019,437.99.

Anderson Excavating LLC was the low bidder on the Fairmont Gateway Connector on WV 273 in Marion County, with a bid of $1,429,992.04.

Rock Forge Bridge Company LLC was the low bidder on a replacement project for the Duskcamp Channel Beam Bridge in Gilmer County, with a bid of $959,542.55.

Rock Forge Bridge Company LLC was also the low bidder on a replacement project for the Oil Creek Channel Beam Bridge in Lewis County, with a bid of $889,650.83.

West Virginia Paving Inc. was the low bidder on a paving project on WV 16 in McDowell County, from Caretta to Coalwood, with a bid of $1,925,288.71.

R.K. Construction Inc. was the low bidder on a replacement project for the Little Flint I-Beam Bridge in Doddridge County, with a bid of $517,371.94.

Rock Forge Bridge Company LLC was the low bidder on a replacement project for the Berwind Lop Bridge in McDowell County, with a bid of $536,695.28.

Ohio-West Virginia Excavating Company was the low bidder on a piling wall slip repair project on Paden Fork Road in Wetzel County, with a bid of $667,294.70.

Several factors are considered before awarding a bid, including whether a bid falls above or below the WVDOH Engineer’s Estimate and by what percentage. In cases where a bid is above the Engineer’s Estimate, WVDOH must consider the project need, repercussions of not awarding the project, additional funding sources, and whether sufficient reasons exist for the differences in estimates. Most projects are reviewed, analyzed, and awarded within a week of the bid letting, but the process can take longer.

When the Division of Highways has a project that is determined to be best constructed by a contractor, it is processed through the bid letting system. A letting is a scheduled opportunity for contractors to review.