Some residents of Marshall and Ohio counties seem to believe gas drilling companies do a better job than the West Virginia Division of Highways in maintaining rural roads. But that is not the situation near New Martinsville, where people who live along American Ridge road can't seem to get any action on repairs.
As reporter Casey Junkins explained in a story this week, American Ridge once had an asphalt road. But since a drilling company, Stone Energy, has been sending trucks out the ridge, the surface has deteriorated into gravel. That has some people who use the route very upset.
Stone Energy has been operating in Wetzel County for two or three years, a company official said. She added the firm is "continuing to work on these road issues."
DOH official Lloyd Adams told Junkins the company "has been a little tough to deal with in this respect." He added he believes the company "will come around."
It probably is too late in the year for much repair and repaving work to be done on American Ridge road. Its damaged surface may make it more dangerous to travel during the winter months.
DOH officials should continue to exert pressure on Stone - and other companies that seem to be lagging in repairing the roads their trucks damage.
Again, many rural roads in Marshall and Ohio counties have been damaged by drilling rigs - but most have been repaired quickly and, apparently, well at the expense of the gas companies. There is no reason residents of Wetzel County should not be treated with equal consideration.