July 22, 2019

MANCHIN ANNOUNCES NEARLY $10 MILLION FOR ROADS PROJECT IN WETZEL AND MARSHALL COUNTIES

Washington, D.C. – After speaking with Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Chao, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced that West Virginia will receive nearly $10 million through the Department of Transportation (DOT) Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program. INFRA grants provide funding for freight, highway, and multimodal projects around the country, but for many years rural areas like West Virginia have been disadvantaged in the allocation process.  As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Manchin has fought to ensure that states like West Virginia receive their fair share of these funds. 

The project will construct a new course for West Virginia Route 2 between the towns of Proctor and Kent by aligning it with Route 29 in Wetzel and Marshall Counties, moving it away from the Ohio River to create more space along the river for economic development and industrial manufacturing in that area. 

“For the last few years, I have pushed the Department of Transportation through my work on the Appropriations Committee to provide more equal funding between rural and urban areas. I thanked the Secretary today for listening to these calls. Last year, West Virginia received two BUILD grants for the first time in many years, totaling over $40 million, and this year I’m proud that we will receive the first INFRA grant in a very long time. This grant will open up Wetzel and Marshall Counties to more economic development and help capitalize on existing manufacturing in the area. I look forward to working with Secretary Chao in the future to bring more funding to West Virginia for these great projects,” said Senator Manchin.

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