The bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia regarding the identification, acquisition, and maintenance of orphan roads and bridges. It establishes a program under the West Virginia Division of Highways that includes a straightforward electronic request form for the public to submit inquiries about orphan roads and bridges. The bill specifies that existing and temporary employees will investigate these requests in the order received and provide detailed reports to the commissioner of highways on the status of ownership and necessary maintenance for qualifying roads and bridges.

To qualify for inclusion in the state system, the bill outlines specific criteria: the road or bridge must have existed as of January 1, 2025, not be maintained by any governmental agency, have all necessary rights-of-way donated to the Division of Highways, and meet length restrictions. Additionally, the bill mandates that at least 20 requests per year be approved by the commissioner and includes a sunset provision for this code section to expire 10 years after its enactment. The Legislature emphasizes the importance of maintaining these roads and bridges for the economic and social development of West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 17-2C-2