BELMONT COUNTY – Despite days of warnings from meteorologists and the National Weather Service, the Ohio Department of Transportation once again failed to deliver on its constant promises of being “ready for winter weather.” As of early Tuesday morning, major state routes across Belmont County remained untouched, unplowed, and dangerously slick—leaving residents furious and calling into question ODOT’s repeated claims of preparedness.
From St. Clairsville to Powhatan Point, motorists reported the same thing: snow-covered highways, no visible plow trucks, and unsafe driving conditions during the morning commute. Even high-traffic corridors like State Route 7, U.S. 40, and I-70 ramps saw little to no attention from ODOT crews hours after snow began falling. For an agency that never misses an opportunity to boast about salt stockpiles, upgraded equipment, and “24/7 readiness,” today’s performance painted a very different picture.
Residents took to social media expressing disbelief that ODOT allowed the storm to get ahead of them—especially when the timing and severity were widely forecast well in advance. Several pointed out that Belmont County schools canceled or delayed not because of extreme snowfall, but because roads were simply not touched.
Local first responders also expressed frustration, noting that untreated roads slow emergency response and increase the likelihood of accidents. “We can’t do our jobs if the roads aren’t cleared,” one responder said privately.
For many in Belmont County, this morning’s failure was not a surprise but a pattern. Year after year, ODOT issues confident press releases about being fully prepared for winter. Yet today’s storm proved, once again, that the agency’s talk does not match its performance.
As snow continues into the afternoon, Belmont County drivers are left to wonder: If ODOT won’t step up when a major storm is predicted days ahead, when will they?
