A detailed look at the Coalfields Expressway

Returning to the WVDOH maps I received on various projects. This time, a look at the Coalfields Expressway.

Recently, a small segment of the highway opened around Sophia earlier this year.

There are eight segments for the Coalfields Expressway (currently signed as WV 121), running from the Virginia State Line to the I-64/77 interchange south of Beckley.

Here's a look at them running South to North.

Segment 1 - Virginia State Line to Bradshaw (WV 80). Length - 7 miles:

The Coalfields Expressway will roughly follow existing WV 83 from the VA line to WV 80 in Bradshaw.

Segment 2 - Bradshaw (WV 80) to Welch (US 52) - Length - 14 miles:

This segment will parallel WV 83 to near the town of English. From that point, it will run parallel and to the west of WV 16 to US 52 a few miles west of Welch.

Segment 3 - Welch (US 52) to King Coal/Coalfields Interchange (Future I-73/74) - Length - 6 miles:

The Coalfields will run to Welch's west, and cross County Route 7 South and East of Capels. It will meet the King Coal at an already completed interchange that now sits empty.

Segment 4 - King Coal/Coalfields Interchange (Future I-73/74) to Pineville (WV 10/16) - Length - 8 miles:

Coalfields will intersect WV 16 near Wolf Pen. It meets WV 10/16 east of Pineville.

Segment 5 - Pineville (WV 10/16) to Mullens (WV 54) - Length: 7.5 Miles:

This section roughly parallels WV 16 to the north; ending at WV 54 north of Mullens.

Segment 6 - Mullens (WV 54) to Surveyor Road - Length - 10 miles:

This section is shown under construction in the 2006/07 West Virginia Highway Map. (See Below)

Segment 7 - Surveyor Road to Sophia (WV 16/54) - Length - 3 miles:

Parts if not all of this segment have opened for use. This segment is forked as near Sophia a part of the Coalfields branches to the existing five lane (four and center turn lane) WV 16.

Segment 8 - Sophia to I-64/77 Interchange - Length - 3.6 miles:

This segment will run to the current I-64/77 Interchange. This interchange is currently a 'Directional-Y' interchange. I have yet to see the design of what a Coalfields/I-77/I-64 Interchange will look like.

Comments

Anonymous said…

WILL WE SEE THIS COMPLETED IN OUR LIFETIME....I'M 60

5:26 PM

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