West Virginia Sen. Manchin: Infrastructure package includes $200M for Corridor H

West Virginia could receive nearly $200 million to support the completion of Corridor H as part of the infrastructure package currently before Congress, according to Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.

On Tuesday, Manchin, along with Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, announced the inclusion of their bipartisan, bicameral Finish the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) Act in the $1 trillion infrastructure bill.

The Corridor H project has remained unfinished for nearly 60 years, Manchin said.

“In 1965, Congress authorized the creation of the Appalachian Development Highway System to bring commerce and opportunity to our region. Since I served as governor of West Virginia, I have worked hard to complete Corridor H, our last remaining section of the ADHS, but we can’t do it on our own,” Manchin said.

“Our bipartisan bill will maintain the commitment President Kennedy made to Appalachia so long ago, and I’m pleased this language has been included in the bipartisan infrastructure agreement. This investment will provide $1.25 billion, including nearly $200 million for Corridor H, to connect West Virginia and the region with the rest of the nation.”

The ADHS was signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson to build 3,090 miles of highway.

As of FY 2021, 91.1% of the system is under construction or open to traffic, with only 276 miles left to go.

According to the Appalachian Regional Commission, the full cost of completion for the ADHS is roughly $9.7 billion. Its completion would create 47,000 jobs and facilitate billions more in goods and services throughout Appalachia. Every $1 invested in the ADHS yields an estimated return of $7.10.

In February, Gov. Jim Justice announced a bid award for paving work on the section of Corridor H (U.S. 48) between Kerens and Parsons.

“Finishing Corridor H will bring more people and businesses through our state than you can imagine, and with them will come more jobs, exposure and countless other great opportunities,” Justice said.

The contract for the project has been awarded to West Virginia Paving Inc., with a low bid of $29,970,497.14.

Work will include 7.5 miles of asphalt paving on Corridor H from Kerens in Randolph County to where the corridor connects with U.S. 219 just east of Parsons in Tucker County.

Currently, 101 miles of Corridor H are open to traffic in West Virginia, with 31 miles left to open, including the section from Kerens to Parsons. To date, an estimated $1.93 billion has been spent on Corridor H. However, an estimated $1.10 billion worth of work remains.

According to information from the West Virginia Encyclopedia, development of West Virginia’s Appalachian Corridor highways began in 1965 when Sen. Jennings Randolph, D-W.Va., helped to create the Appalachian Regional Commission.

The Appalachian Development Highway System was created under the Appalachian Regional Commission to attract industry and diversify the economic base by building good roads throughout the previously isolated region.

Originally including 23 individual corridors designated alphabetically from A to W, the 3,285-mile system was designed to link the interstate highways of the 13 Appalachian states.

Of West Virginia’s six routes, designated D, E, G, H, L and Q, Corridor H is the only corridor highway that remains incomplete.

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