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CHARLESTON,
WV – Gov. Jim Justice issued the following statement today
after learning that West Virginia has been awarded $12 million to help
fund the section of U.S. Route 48 (Corridor H) between Kerens and
Parsons.
“The funding announced today is exactly the kind of boost we need for a
project that is going to change the landscape of our state forever, and
so this is a really proud day for all West Virginians,” Gov. Justice
said. “There are thousands of roads that we’re upgrading under my watch.
But I’ve said over and over that Corridor H is absolutely the number one
beacon that can bring the most goodness to West Virginia.”
The West Virginia Division of Highways submitted an
application to the United States Department of Transportation
in February, requesting additional federal funding for the Corridor H
project through the 2020 INFRA discretionary grant program.
“The construction of Corridor H is going to bring us jobs, but that’s
just the start of what this project will do for our state,” Gov. Justice
said. “When all is said and done, this project is going to connect us to
the entire northeast corridor, it’s going to bring us all kinds of
exposure, and bring people and businesses into West Virginia like never
before.
“I want to especially thank Senators Capito and Manchin for their support
of this grant award, and also Representatives McKinley and Mooney for
their work securing these crucial dollars.”
“The Corridor H project is the shining example of how Governor Justice’s
years-long commitment to improving our state’s transportation
infrastructure is going to make life better for all West Virginians,”
West Virginia Department of Transportation Secretary Byrd White said.
“It’s more money in everyone’s wallet, it’s a smoother and safer ride
behind the wheel, and it’s a project that was stuck in the mud for years
and years until Governor Justice walked in the door and got dirt moving
and helped get cash flowing in.”
In May 2019, Gov.
Justice approved the $175.6 million award for this
section of Corridor H to Kokosing Construction. This project marks the
second out of five phases of work that will be done to enhance Corridor H
from Kerens to Parsons in eastern West Virginia. The scope of work for
this section includes designing, grading, and draining approximately 4.13
miles, which will eventually become a new, partially controlled access
roadway from the US Route 219 Connector to the WV Route 72 Interchange in
Tucker County. |