CHARLESTON — Local officials were heartened by the announcement of $37 million in federal funding for Corridor H highway construction.
“It’s always an exciting day when money is dedicated toward Corridor H,” Robbie Morris, executive director of the Randolph County Development Authority and chairman of the Corridor H Authority, told The Inter-Mountain Wednesday. “This $37 million is the first of nearly $200 million that will be coming to the Corridor H project from the bipartisan infrastructure bill that was passed in 2021.
“It’s nice to see that money flowing in already, and it will be put to good use on the project.”
Senators Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Congressman David McKinley, R-W.Va., announced $37,335,171 from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will go to fund Corridor H, the last remaining section of the Appalachian Development Highway System in West Virginia.
In December, McKinley visited Elkins and Tucker County to gather information and raise public awareness about making a push to finish Corridor H highway construction.
In November, McKinley cast his vote for the $1.2 trillion hard infrastructure bill, which will provide $6 billion to West Virginia, to be spent on for roads and bridges, water and sewer systems, broadband connectivity and other issues. In Elkins in December, McKinley said he wanted to see some of that funding used to finish Corridor H.
“Finally completing Corridor H is an overdue step to connect West Virginia to the rest of the region and will improve the quality of life for families, bring in new jobs, and strengthen tourism,” McKinley said this week. “We know that businesses looking to make an investment in a state expect safe roads and bridges, clean water and reliable broadband.
“The $6 billion in infrastructure funding coming to West Virginia is a once in a lifetime opportunity to modernize hard infrastructure and ensure our state remains competitive for future economic opportunities. This funding for the Appalachian Development Highway System is an important down payment towards that.”
Manchin and Capito also spoke of the importance of finishing Corridor H.
“Completing Corridor H – West Virginia’s remaining section of the Appalachian Development Highway System- was one of my top priorities as governor and continues to be a top priority as West Virginia’s senior senator,” Manchin said.
“I successfully fought to include my Finish the ADHS Act in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. As a result, this is the first surface transportation legislation in 10 years to include dedicated funding for ADHS and Corridor H, connecting West Virginia with the rest of the nation.
“I am thrilled West Virginia is receiving more than $37 million this year and nearly $200 million in funding over the next five years for Corridor H, and I will continue to work with federal and state agencies to improve our roads and bridges as we address the infrastructure needs of the Mountain State,” Manchin said.
Capito said, “When my EPW Committee was writing the surface transportation portion of the new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, I worked to create a separate set-aside dedicated solely to Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) projects–given its importance in connecting residents, businesses, and visitors in West Virginia and throughout our region. Completing Corridor H has been and remains one of my top priorities.
“My position as Ranking Member of the EPW Committee has allowed me to direct federal dollars specifically towards ADHS, and I know the funding announced today will make a meaningful difference towards finishing the last segment of Corridor H,” Capito said.
The Appalachian Development Highway System was signed into law in 1965 by President Johnson to build 3,090 miles of highway in isolated areas in Appalachia – places that were difficult, expensive, and hard to reach – to bring commerce and opportunity to the region.
West Virginia has one more ADHS project left to complete, Corridor H, which will connect I-79 and I-81 along U.S. 33 and bring economic benefits to the region stretching from Weston, Buckhannon, Elkins, Canaan Valley and Wardensville.
Work is currently underway to connect the section from Kerens to Parsons. Just over 15 miles of Corridor H remain over some of the most difficult and mountainous terrain along the route, officials said.
The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will provide nearly $200 million over the next five years for continued work on Corridor H in an effort to bring the project closer to completion.