State highways official tells council downtown milling and paving on track but supply and subgrade issues may push timeline

Pearl Gaskins, representing the Department of Highways, briefed Clarksburg City Council on the downtown milling and paving contract. She said the contractor currently plans to move in on April 1 to start milling and paving, but county and state inspectors are seeing supply constraints: asphalt plants across the state remain closed for the season, which will affect timing and scheduling.

In the short term, Gaskins told the council DOH and county crews will perform temporary cold‑patch repairs to reduce immediate hazards while permanent patch materials arrive. She warned that cold patch is a temporary measure and will not be long lasting; permanent patches and paving require appropriate subgrade preparation. For some trenches and settled sections, DOH expects to excavate up to 18 inches and rebuild the subgrade in lifts, which is time‑consuming and may require closing blocks for extended periods.

Gaskins said DOH is coordinating weekly meetings with the prime contractor and city staff, and that milling material disposal is the contractor's responsibility on this project (the contract does not mandate the city take millings). She emphasized inspector presence on site and said the city is the permit holder and ultimately accountable for meeting specs, but DOH inspectors will enforce compliance with contract requirements prior to release of bonds.

Council members asked about quality assurance, the contractor bond, and whether the contractor or state will guarantee final work. Gaskins said inspections and the bond will hold contractors accountable, but admitted some areas will require staged work and re‑checks because of repeated disturbance from ongoing utility and construction activity. She repeated that the project's complexity—new water, sewer and gas lines under multiple streets—makes it one of the largest infrastructure efforts the district has seen in recent years.

Councilors also asked where millings go and whether the city could retain them; Gaskins said the contract currently leaves millings disposal to the contractor but that specific projects sometimes require the municipality to accept them. On schedule, Gaskins said July remains a conservative completion target but DOH and prime contractors will attempt to finish earlier if possible.

Several councilors thanked DOH for the update and urged continued communication with downtown stakeholders and business owners while work continues.

Next steps: DOH will continue weekly coordination meetings, increase periodic checks in targeted areas, and report back if timeline or material availability materially changes.