FRAZIERS BOTTOM, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today joined federal, state, and local leaders for the grand opening of U.S. Route 35, which has long been a priority of Senator Capito’s since she was first elected to Congress.
“Route 35 has been a major infrastructure priority for me since I was first elected to the House of Representatives, so I’m elated to see it finally come to completion today,” Senator Capito said. “This project is the culmination of years of federal, state, and local teamwork. The development of this four-lane highway in Putnam and Mason counties will improve the quality of life for local residents, help attract new jobs to the area, and make our roads safer.”
Senator Capito has personally secured $105 million in congressionally directed spending for the Route 35 project and supported well over $500 million in federal highway funding for the project. The final stretch of Route 35, which opened directly after the event, is a 14.6 mile section from Beech Hill to the Buffalo Bridge in Mason County and includes eight new bridges, a new interchange, and 73,568 tons of asphalt.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:
In 2001, then-Representative Capito joined the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee where she identified the Route 35 project as her highest priority. Over the past two decades, Senator Capito has worked with local leaders, state officials, federal administrations, and congressional colleagues to secure the necessary funds for the project.
Between 2001 and 2006, then-Representative Capito secured $105 million in specific congressionally directed spending to build Route 35. Combined with formula dollars authorized by the highway bills Senator Capito supported in Congress, more than $500 million in federal funds were spent on Route 35 between 2001 and 2018.
From 2013 through November 2018, West Virginia received only $10 million in discretionary federal grant funds for roads and bridges. From the time Senator Capito became chairman of EPW’s Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee following the November 2018 election, she secured $201.4 million in these discretionary highway funds for West Virginia projects. Over the last 36 months, West Virginia has received 20 times more discretionary highway funds than it did during the prior five years. That includes a $20 million discretionary grant for widening the I-64 Nitro-St. Albans Bridge.
Photos from today’s visit are included below:
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) participates in the Route 35 ribbon cutting in Fraziers Bottom, W.Va. on Thursday, November 11, 2021.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Governor Jim Justice at the Route 35 ribbon cutting in Fraziers Bottom, W.Va. on Thursday, November 11, 2021.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Route 35 project supervisor Clif Farley at the Route 35 ribbon cutting in Fraziers Bottom, W.Va. on Thursday, November 11, 2021.
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