CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Upgrades to Corridor H are getting a boost with two announcements on Friday.
A $100 million grant for the West Virginia Division of Highways was announced by U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects.
The funding will support the completion of Corridor H, specifically, an interchange at the junction of Corridor H and WV Route 72, along with 4.6 miles of roadway and a bridge spanning Cheat River.
“From my first day in the Senate, I have advocated for Corridor H and similar projects that will strengthen our transportation infrastructure, and I was thrilled to work with the administration and Secretary Chao to deliver this much-needed investment,” Capito said in a statement.
Manchin said, “Corridor H was designated more than 50 years ago in West Virginia and it’s still not complete. Corridor H has been a top priority for me as a Governor and now as a Senator and I have been fighting for the funding West Virginia needs to finally complete Corridor H and I’m proud to announce $100 million today to get us one step closer.”
Also on Friday, Gov. Jim Justice and West Virginia Department of Transportation officials announced a contract for additional work to Corridor H has been awarded.
Kokosing Construction Company was awarded the bid at just over $175 million.
The project is the second out of five phases to enhance the roadway from Kerens to Parsons and is a part of the governor’s Roads to Prosperity program.
In a release from Justice, the construction of this project includes designing, grading, and draining approximately 4.13 miles, which will eventually become new, partially controlled access roadway from the US Route 219 Connector to the WV Route 72 Interchange in Tucker County.
In addition, the construction of three large sets of bridges crossing Goodwin Road, Smokey Hollow and WV Route 72 will also be worked on.