Byrd announces funding for several West Virginia road projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., who serves as the senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee today announced millions of dollars he obtained in funding for road projects throughout West Virginia. The funding was included in the FY 2010 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations bill, which passed the Senate Thursday by a vote of 73-25.

Included in measure is funding for the following road projects throughout West Virginia:

• Byrd secured an additional $4.5 million for Corridor H, which remains the only unfinished corridor highway in West Virginia as part of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS). Corridor H in West Virginia is planned to stretch from I-79 at Weston through the Potomac Highlands to the Virginia state line. The $4.5 million Byrd added to the bill would be used primarily for work on the roadway between Bismarck and Forman. To date Byrd has secured over $350 million in past appropriations bills for Corridor H construction. The State of West Virginia also receives annual ADHS formula funding as a result of Byrd’s efforts in past transportation authorization measures;

• $2 million for the Coalfields Expressway -- The Coalfields Expressway is a proposed 112-mile four-lane, limited-access, highway that will run from I-64-77 in Beckley to U.S. 23 in Pound, Virginia. This funding would be used for work associated with the Allen Creek to Slab Fork area. To date, Byrd has secured $149.35 million for this project;

• $2 million for the King Coal Highway -- The King Coal Highway is the 104-mile segment of U.S. 52 that extends from the Robert C. Byrd Freeway near Williamson to Interstate 77 near Bluefield. Funding will be used for construction of an interchange to WV 460 in Mercer County. Byrd has previously secured $124.65 million for this project;

• $2 million for U.S. Route 35 -- The West Virginia portion of U.S. Route 35 runs from the Ohio River east through Mason, Putnam, and Kanawha Counties and connects with Interstate 64 in Charleston. The roadway serves as a vital commercial thoroughfare, with trucks using the road as part of their route through Charleston and onto Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus, Ohio, and beyond. Byrd has secured $117.54 million for this project;

• $2 million in funding for continued construction and improvements to West Virginia Route 10 in Logan County;

• $500,000 for the replacement of the Wetzel Bridge -- The West Virginia Division of Highways will use these funds to replace the current Wetzel Street Bridge in the Town of Hundred which has been closed to traffic for some time;

• $1 million for Monongalia Health Systems Road -- The construction of an access road will provide emergency vehicles, patients, visitors and staff direct access to Monongalia General Hospital in Monongalia County; and

• $1.5 million for the Hardy County Complex Access Road -- This will allow the Hardy County Rural Development Authority in Moorefield to construct an access road to West Virginia Eastern Community and Technical College and points beyond.