January 25, 2022

Manchin, Capito and McKinley Announce More Than $37 Million From the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for Corridor H

Charleston, WV – Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Representative David McKinley (R-WV) announced $37,335,171 from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to fund Corridor H, the last remaining section of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) in West Virginia.

“Completing Corridor H – West Virginia’s remaining section of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) - was one of my top priorities as Governor and continues to be a top priority as West Virginia’s senior Senator. I successfully fought to include my Finish the ADHS Act in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. As a result, this is the first surface transportation legislation in 10 years to include dedicated funding for ADHS and Corridor H, connecting West Virginia with the rest of the nation,” said Senator Manchin. “I am thrilled West Virginia is receiving more than $37 million this year and nearly $200 million in funding over the next 5 years for Corridor H, and I will continue to work with federal and state agencies to improve our roads and bridges as we address the infrastructure needs of the Mountain State.”

“When my EPW Committee was writing the surface transportation portion of the now Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, I worked to create a separate set-aside dedicated solely to Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) projects—given its importance in connecting residents, businesses, and visitors in West Virginia and throughout our region. Completing Corridor H has been and remains one of my top priorities,” Senator Capito, Ranking Member of the Senate EPW Committee, said. “My position as Ranking Member of the EPW Committee has allowed me to direct federal dollars specifically towards ADHS, and I know the funding announced today will make a meaningful difference towards finishing the last segment of Corridor H.”

“Finally completing Corridor H is an overdue step to connect West Virginia to the rest of the region and will improve the quality of life for families, bring in new jobs, and strengthen tourism,” said Rep. McKinley. “We know that businesses looking to make an investment in a state expect safe roads and bridges, clean water and reliable broadband. The $6 Billion in infrastructure funding coming to West Virginia is a once in a lifetime opportunity to modernize hard infrastructure and ensure our state remains competitive for future economic opportunities. This funding for the Appalachian Development Highway System is an important down payment towards that.”

The Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) was signed into law in 1965 by President Johnson to build 3,090 miles of highway in isolated areas in Appalachia – places that were difficult, expensive, and hard to reach – to bring commerce and opportunity to the region. According to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), 91.1 percent of the system is under construction or open to traffic, with only 276 miles left to go. ARC estimates that 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 West Virginia, the completion of Corridor G along U.S. 119 in the southern part of the state has become a critical link between Pikeville, KY and Charleston, much like Corridor D has in the northern part of the state to connect U.S. 50 between Bridgeport and Parkersburg and on to Cincinnati, OH. Today, West Virginia has one more ADHS project left to complete, Corridor H, which will connect I-79 and I-81 along U.S. 33 and bring enormous economic benefits to the region stretching from Weston, Buckhannon, Elkins, Canaan Valley and Wardensville. Thanks to Congressional appropriations over the past several years, work is already underway to connect the section from Kerens to Parsons. Just over 15 miles of Corridor H remain over some of the most difficult and mountainous terrain along the route. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides nearly $200 million over the next five years for continued work on Corridor H, bringing the project closer to completion in order to finish the work that Congress first began in 1965.