Clarksburg officials, the West Virginia Department of Highways district office and utility contractors briefed residents on November 18 about a coordinated, accelerated infrastructure effort so the city can capture large grant awards and finish a DOH-led paving project next spring.

City and utility presenters said the work is intended to bring storm and sanitary systems into compliance with sewer-permit requirements, to replace aging mains and to eliminate lead service lines. "We are mandated to remove all lead service lines, and we will," said Doug Smith during the presentation, citing examples of aging cast-iron mains and a 16-inch line on Chestnut Street.

The forum repeatedly stressed timing and funding constraints as the principal driver of simultaneous work: presenters said a sanitary project qualified for about a 45% grant that required contracts by December 2024; meeting that schedule unlocked additional grant funding the city would have lost otherwise. The Department of Highways representative said DOH is investing in the area and inspects utility work that occupies DOH right-of-way, but does not control every schedule decision outside its paving contract.

Residents raised safety and property concerns. Several described incidents of tire damage and rim destruction caused by temporary steel plates and uneven trench repairs. Staff advised immediate reporting for on-site incidents — calling police or 911 so an official report can be written — and said contractors' daily GPS reports and marked trucks typically identify the responsible crew. "If there is a claim, then they need to call 911 or have the police there because a report needs to be written," a staff member said while explaining the claims routing.

Officials explained why some trench repairs look rough: temporary pavement is often hand-tamped or placed to make roads passable until a larger DOH paving operation arrives in spring. Contractor availability and seasonal paving demand were cited as reasons finish paving will likely occur in spring rather than December in many neighborhoods such as Northview.

Speakers also described unexpected subsurface conditions found during excavation — including a nearly 20-by-20-foot void under West Pike — and urged patience while crews repair those safety hazards before paving.

The meeting included public questions about ADA ramps that remain obstructed by utility poles; the DOH district manager said federal guidelines limit DOH's responsibility beyond the crosswalk perimeter and recommended grant-seeking or design-phase utility relocation to address those obstructions.

The session closed with officials asking for ongoing transparency and communication. The DOH representative urged residents and council members to report concerns promptly so agencies and contractors can coordinate corrective steps and claims handling.