Construction of Corridor H in West Virginia began slowly in the 1970s but saw significant progress in the 1990s and again over
the last 10 years. According to a September
2013 report from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Virginia Department
of Transportation expects their section of
Corridor H to be completed by September
2026, and West Virginia’s section is scheduled to be completed by 2036-2042. As the
years tick by, so do the missed economic
opportunities that would enrich the state.
A 2013 economic impact study found
that finishing Corridor H by 2020 would
result in an additional $1.25 billion in economic output when compared with the
2036 completion date. This difference can
be explained by the decrease of transportation costs from creating a more direct route
along the path of Corridor H to I-81 and
I-66 at Front Royal, VA, and by the increase
in business investment from opening up the
state to global markets via a route to the
port at Norfolk. The study also shows that
a 2020 completion date would allow for
an increase of $360 million in wages and
an increase of around 534 jobs annually.
By completing Corridor H in this timeframe, the state would see a significant
C om
increase in economic output, but especially
in the manufacturing, transportation and
construction industries. Manufacturing
alone would increase by $275 million between 2020-2036 with transportation and
warehousing increasing by an estimated
$219 million following the construction
of Corridor H during that period.
Tourism could also expect a growth spurt
in the region that would benefit from the
completion of Corridor H. This highway
could further open more east coast markets to some of the finest skiing in the entire region, and whitewater rafters could
easily reach remote destinations with Class
IV and Class V rapids, which would help
the state’s tourism industry.
The use of public-private partnerships
(PPP) has given new life to the project. In
2008, the West Virginia Legislature passed
the Public-Private Transportation Facilities
Act, which gave way for PPPs to change
the way governments repair and construct
roads by allowing state agencies to join
forces with the business sector. The act allows the West Virginia Division of Highways to partner with a private company on
the design and construction of otherwise
public transportation facilities.
n to Wheeling
, WV
i ng S o o
!
In November 2015, when a newly completed section of Corridor H was celebrated
by a ribbon cutting near the Tucker/Grant
county line, Tom Smith, West Virginia Division administrator for the Federal Highways Administration, noted the importance
of PPPs and their role in the completion of
Corridor H. “The continued use of publicprivate partnerships to fund this roadway
is critical, as is the impending passing of
a federal long-term highway bill, which is
really good news for projects in West Virginia,” he said.
In October, West Virginia awarded a 7.5mile stretch for engineering and construction that will connect Kerens to the 219
Connector. The next section of Corridor
H to open will be at Davis, WV. Once this
section is complete, travelers will be able
to go from Davis to Wardensville without
stopping. That will leave the following segments to be contracted: approximately an
8-mile section on to Parsons, a 9.2-mile section from Parsons to Davis and a 6.8-mile
section from Wardensville to the Virginia
state line. With each passing mile, Corridor
H is closer to completion, bringing with it
the potential for much needed economic opportunity for the Mountain State.
Bob!
Congratulations,
Luxury Apartments and Townhomes
From your friends at
For more information, contact Melanie Goode
(304) 747-8486 • [email protected]
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summer 2016
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