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After a Shakeup, W.Va. Gov Pledges to Fix Secondary Roads

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – Gov. Jim Justice says he’s going to hire workers and buy equipment to speed up repairs on secondary roads in West Virginia.

The Republican governor on Wednesday laid out a plan to fix the roads, just days after firing his transportation secretary.

Justice says the plan will cost hundreds of millions of dollars pooled from revenue surpluses and bond money but didn’t settle on a specific figure or timeline.

He has also appointed Byrd White as acting transportation secretary. White once ran a country club previously owned by Justice’s company.

On Sunday, Justice announced the firing of state transportation secretary and highways commissioner Tom Smith.

Voters in 2017 passed a referendum for the state to sell $1.6 billion in bonds to finance state road repairs and construction.