CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia transportation officials are preparing to start using part of last October’s settlement with asphalt and paving companies on projects.
The state and 11 companies, including West Virginia Paving Inc., Kelly Paving Inc. and American Asphalt & Aggregate Inc., reached a $101.4 million agreement related to allegations the companies conspired to monopolize the state’s asphalt and paving market.
During a House of Delegates Finance Committee meeting Monday, state Transportation Secretary Byrd White noted $78 million of the settlement was dedicated to the state as a credit on projects. White added the state is willing to use the line of credit “just as soon as we can.”
“We’ve got it lined up to use most of it this year,” he said.
White said the federal government may get a small portion of the settlement, but federal transportation officials have not notified the state in writing about using the settlement.
Most of the projects will involve competitive bidding; White said a portion of the credit will go toward improving U.S. Route 35.
“The rest of it will be used against bid contracts or purchase order paving, which they would win on the bid,” he said.
Municipal governments — Beckley, Bluefield, Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg and Kanawha County — received $4.4 million from the settlement.