Gribblenation

Major West Virginia transportation projects are poised to gain an infusion of a few million dollars if President Obama signs the Fiscal Year 2010 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill into law. Senator Robert Byrd has included nearly $14 million in funding for various road projects throughout the state. They include: $4.4 million for Corridor H (specifically for the highway between Bismarck and Foreman). $1.9 million for US 35 improvements $1.9 million for WV 10 upgrades $1.9 million for the Coalfields Expressway - specifically for work in Raleigh County in the Allen Creek to Slab Fork Section. $1.9 million for the King Coal Highway - to be used for extending the highway north towards the Mercer County Airport near Bluefield . These funds will not make construction imminent on these projects, but they will be added to the pool of funds needed to start or continue work. Story Links: Road funds await Obama signature --- Bluefield Dail...

From his hospital bed, West Virginia Senator Robert C. Byrd continues to secure transportation funding for various West Virginia highway projects. The latest includes another $4.5 million for Corridor H - which will most likely go towards construction of the Bismark to Davis section. Byrd continues to push for the completion of the controversial Corridor H - even going at odds with the Obama Administration who cut off Corridor H funding in his proposed budget. Byrd in announcing the additional $4.5 million stated that “ Corridor H is my transportation crusade .” In addition to the $4.5 million for Corridor H, Byrd was able to secure: $2 million for the Coalfields Expressway -- This funding would be used for work associated with the Allen Creek to Slab Fork area. To date, Byrd has secured $149.35 million for this project. $2 million for the King Coal Highway -- Funding will be used for construction of an interchange to WV 460 in Mercer County. Byrd has previously secured $124.65 mil...

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 Cap...