The bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia regarding the identification, acquisition, and maintenance of orphan roads and bridges. It establishes a clear procedure for the public to submit requests through a simple electronic form, which will be investigated by the West Virginia Division of Highways. The bill outlines specific criteria for roads and bridges to qualify for inclusion in the state system, including that they must have existed as of January 1, 2025, not be maintained by any governmental agency, and have necessary rights-of-way donated to the Division of Highways. Additionally, it sets limits on the length of roads and bridges that can qualify and mandates that at least 20 requests be approved annually.

Furthermore, the bill includes legislative findings emphasizing the importance of maintaining orphan roads and bridges for the economic and social development of West Virginia. It also introduces a sunset provision, stating that the new regulations will expire ten years after they take effect. The changes aim to streamline the process and ensure that basic maintenance is performed on these infrastructure elements to support public well-being and local businesses.

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