Manchin Applauds Groundbreaking of Corridor H Section 3

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, commends the groundbreaking ceremony for section 3 of Corridor H from Kerens to Parsons. Current work on Corridor H has been made possible as a result of $274,442,537 of federal funding secured by Senator Manchin.

“I have been working to complete Corridor H since I was Governor. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and lead negotiator of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), I have never stopped fighting to complete this critical highway,” said Senator Manchin. “I am proud to have secured more than $274 million in federal funding over the past several years to ensure the state of West Virginia has the resources necessary to get the job done. Corridor H will spur economic development, further open up our outdoor recreation economy to tourists, and promote safe and secure travel for all West Virginians. Like most projects, it could not happen without a sustained bipartisan commitment from all West Virginia’s leaders and I will continue working with my colleagues to deliver for West Virginians.”

Senator Manchin has worked tirelessly to complete Corridor H West Virginia’s last remaining section of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS), which will connect I-79 and I-81 along U.S. 33 and bring enormous economic benefits to the region. As Governor, Senator Manchin worked closely with officials at the state and federal level to complete half of Corridor H. Progress slowed considerably until 2020, when Senator Manchin, as a member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, secured the first dedicated funding for Corridor H through the annual appropriations process in nearly a decade. Building on his work on the Appropriations Committee, Senator Manchin secured the inclusion of his bipartisan Finish the ADHS Act in the IIJA in 2021, which will provide $1.25 billion in dedicated funding over five years, including nearly $200 million to support completion of Corridor H. Thanks to Senator Manchin’s efforts, just over 15 miles of Corridor H remain to be completed.

The ADHS was signed into law in 1965 by President Johnson to build 3,090 miles of highway in isolated areas in Appalachia to bring commerce and opportunity to the region. Roughly 91 percent of the system is under construction or open to traffic, with around 276 miles left to go. According to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), every $1 invested in the ADHS yields an estimated return of $7.10. The ARC also estimates that completing the remaining 9% of the system will enable businesses to gain access to 27% more workers within a one-hour commute. In total, completion of the ADHS will enable $8.7 billion more goods and services per year, generate over $4.2 billion more in gross regional product, and add over 46,000 more jobs across Appalachia. 

Corridor H: Current Work & Next Steps

Corridor H: Federal Funding 2018 – 2026

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