KANAWHA COUNTY, WV (WOWK) – A project to rebuild the storm and sewer system in Rand could finally be coming to fruition.

According to the West Virginia Department of Transportation, the project is one of 30 projects included in a bid letting the DOT conducted on Tuesday. It comes after DOT engineers agreed in October 2022 to step in and help residents correct massive drainage problems they’ve been facing for years.

“This is the first of several projects that will deal with some major drainage issues in the town of Rand,” said Transportation Secretary Jimmy Wriston, P.E. “Once this is complete, it should alleviate a lot of concerns for the citizens of Rand.”

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According to Doug Kirk, P.E., WVDOT Chief Engineer of Environmental Compliance, when Rand was first developed more than 100 years ago, the storm sewers and sanitary sewers ran together. They were separated at some point in the town’s history, but while the sanitary sewers were maintained, the storm sewers “fell into disrepair.”

“Where Rand isn’t incorporated, there’s no municipal entity to step in and perform the work now,” said Jason Foster, WVDOT Chief Engineer of Development. “The community of Rand needs assistance. We have avenues for funding, so we’re trying to use that in the best interests of the citizens of Rand.”

The WVDOT says the plan is to use its resources to rebuild the storm sewer system, including running new lines to the Kanawha River to solve Rand’s flooding problems. Wriston says they “vigorously” pursued federal grant funding to help pay for these repairs.

Residents of Rand have told WOWK 13 News over the years how the persistent flooding problems impact them. Just a month before the WVDOT agreed to help the town, residents said the storm water was contaminated with sewage .

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