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I was thinking about some of the ongoing, finished, or planned infrastructure projects in WV and how they might benefit the state's economy.
For example:
>Corridor H extension and eventual completion
>I-64 widening and new bridges between Nitro and Hurricane
>I-79 widening and new bridge in Fairmont
>I-77/64 widening in Beckley
>King Coal Highway
>New US 35 completion in Putnam and Mason Counties
>Coalfield Expressway
>I-70 work in Wheeling
>I-81 widening in the Eastern Panhandle
>Chaplin Hill Road reconfiguration and widening in Morgantown
>New Jefferson Road and interchange in South Charleston
etc...
These projects will help keep WV going in a positive direction, but are there other projects that aren't being planned that might have even more of an impact. What are the infrastructure needs that you've thought about that might have a great impact on the state's economy?
For me, here's a few that I've thought about for years in the Kanawha Valley.
US 35 Expansion from I-64 interchange to US 119 (Corridor G).
Essentially the four lane highway would continue from where it meets I-64, and continue south. It would junction with US-60 near Saint Albans, and continue south passing by Tornado and Alum Creek. It would eventually connect with Corridor G with a full fledged interchange. It wouldn't necessarily have to be 4 lanes the entire way, but I wouldn't see why it shouldn't be.
The road would serve several purposes.
1. It would create a shortcut for travelers and freight traffic trying to go west on 64 from Corridor G, or south from 64 to Corridor G. Also, it would give the coalfields direct access to US 35 and the bigger markets of Cincinnati and Columbus. This would be a huge decrease in distance and time traveled, and would encourage further economic development along Corridor G in Lincoln, Boone, and Logan Counties.
2. It would give people living in Saint Albans, Tornado, and Alum Creek better access to both 64 and Corridor G.
3. Encourage economic development in that part of Kanawha County. I could see plenty of new development in the Saint Albans/Tornado area, as well as in South Charleston and Alum Creek.
I-64 and I-77 Connector via Cross Lanes and Sissonville
I have thought that a shortcut from Sissonville to Cross Lanes makes too much sense. It could meet 64 around the casino, and add an additional exit for the Nitro Marketplace area.
Some benefits of such a road...
1. It could bypass Cross Lanes and help alleviate traffic on Big Tyler Rd. There could be connecting points along the way, but it would take some of the cars off of the main drag, making life a lot easier for Cross Lanes area residence.
2. It would help encourage economic activity in Sissonville. I could see that area becoming more desirable place to live if there was easier access to go west.
3. Add an additional exit for the Nitro Marketplace area and Mardi Gras Casino. That would also make the land surrounding the casino more attractive to developers.
4. The land in that part of the county is more suitable for development due to the gentler topography. I could see the land being developed into commercial and industrial lots. It would be a great place for distribution centers, with access to 77 and 64.
- The West Run Expressway would be nice, I think it should be a state highway and extend from US-43 near the PA-Line north of Morgantown, and end somewhere with direct access to Wheeling, in order to connect the Northern Panhandle to Morgantown (Should be top priority). Not to lower traffic congestion, but to allow for a sprawling area with easy access. The more sprawling developments, the more attractive the area is.
- Widen WV-7 to 4-lanes between downtown Morgantown (through Sabraton) to Kingwood
- Widen US-119 to 4-lanes between Morgantown and Grafton
- Expand WV-43 to WV-7 - Having a 4-lane thoroughfare going through Cheat Lake would hopefully allow for us to have upscale things like Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Land Rover Dealership (please), Shake Shack, First Watch, and more. This would definitely be one of the things that would keep us in WV long-term.
Not as important, but still would be nice to have;
- 4-Lane state highway connecting the Lewisburg area to the Summersville area at US-19 - This would significantly reduce travel time from Morgantown, Clarksburg/Bridgeport, Wheeling, and Parkersburg to the Greenbrier Valley and the WV State Fair.
- The West Run Expressway would be nice, I think it should be a state highway and extend from US-43 near the PA-Line north of Morgantown, and end somewhere with direct access to Wheeling, in order to connect the Northern Panhandle to Morgantown (Should be top priority). Not to lower traffic congestion, but to allow for a sprawling area with easy access. The more sprawling developments, the more attractive the area is.
- Widen WV-7 to 4-lanes between downtown Morgantown (through Sabraton) to Kingwood
- Widen US-119 to 4-lanes between Morgantown and Grafton
- Expand WV-43 to WV-7 - Having a 4-lane thoroughfare going through Cheat Lake would hopefully allow for us to have upscale things like Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Land Rover Dealership (please), Shake Shack, First Watch, and more. This would definitely be one of the things that would keep us in WV long-term.
Not as important, but still would be nice to have;
- 4-Lane state highway connecting the Lewisburg area to the Summersville area at US-19 - This would significantly reduce travel time from Morgantown, Clarksburg/Bridgeport, Wheeling, and Parkersburg to the Greenbrier Valley and the WV State Fair.
I like all of theses. The Morgantown area clearly needs some additional infrastructure.
The original plans for I-64 were to follow US-60 along the Kanawha/New rivers. That would have made been by default the road you are proposing from Lewisburg to Summersville. Obviously that would have totally changed things, and Beckley would have been the one left awkwardly without a route going east. I suppose the state could have built a connection from Beckley to 64, but there's no guarantee of that.
It would be tricky navigating the terrain from Lewisburg to Summersville without robing the area of its natural beauty. Similar to the problems that Corridor H is facing.
For me, the appeal of WV is the lack of highways in many areas. It's quiet, less pollution......
I've been visiting since before Corridor H. Not a fan. But then again I don't make a living from tourism.
.02 from someone who would love to get away from highways.
Overall, I agree with your sentiment on adding more highways. WV always needs to consider the factors that have made it such a unique paradise. It's small town charm, the remote feeling in some places, its natural beauty, protected forests, etc... There's some places that just should be left alone. Corridor H is dancing on a fine line in my opinion. However, I do believe that the highway is necessary. But to the previous point, it's going to be going through a delicate part of our state.
I think I-73/74 would be big for Huntington and those parts of WV it passes through. It will make travel to Huntington quicker for those areas for work and healthcare. It will also make Cincinnati, Columbus and Charlotte more easily accessible as well. Ohio has to complete its sections as well though.
Widening Route 2 would also bring some benefits to the Ohio Valley. I feel like that would especially help bring more industry, especially with Nucor coming in soon
I drive a whole lot across WV and we have some areas that the roads are so bad, I cannot think of adding more of them.
The best roads I have driven on are the two lane ones in the mountains on the eastern side of the state.
I-77 from Ripley to Charleston is horrid in many spots, particularly in Kanawha County.
My suspicion is it relates to the method of resurfacing allocations in try to equitably distribute funds. However, I learned a long time ago that the most unequal thing is the equal treatment of unequals.
In theory i like many of the ideas presented in this thread. Summersville to Lewisburg would benefit a lot of people and shave of an incredible amount of travel time. I drive from Teays Valley to Frankford in Greenbrier County 5-10 times a year to visit my brother and his family. I do wish there were a more direct route, but at the same time, i would hate to see another area of our state bisected by an ugly 4 lane highway.
- The West Run Expressway would be nice, I think it should be a state highway and extend from US-43 near the PA-Line north of Morgantown, and end somewhere with direct access to Wheeling, in order to connect the Northern Panhandle to Morgantown (Should be top priority). Not to lower traffic congestion, but to allow for a sprawling area with easy access. The more sprawling developments, the more attractive the area is.
- Widen WV-7 to 4-lanes between downtown Morgantown (through Sabraton) to Kingwood
- Widen US-119 to 4-lanes between Morgantown and Grafton
- Expand WV-43 to WV-7 - Having a 4-lane thoroughfare going through Cheat Lake would hopefully allow for us to have upscale things like Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Land Rover Dealership (please), Shake Shack, First Watch, and more. This would definitely be one of the things that would keep us in WV long-term.
Not as important, but still would be nice to have;
- 4-Lane state highway connecting the Lewisburg area to the Summersville area at US-19 - This would significantly reduce travel time from Morgantown, Clarksburg/Bridgeport, Wheeling, and Parkersburg to the Greenbrier Valley and the WV State Fair.
Other than fixing I-64 between Huntington and Charleston, I think the West Run Expressway is the single most important proposed road in the state. Spent 7 years in Morgantown, traffic is a nightmare. The additional bridge that would provide near the end of Collins Ferry Road would help a ton as well. As well as the proposed bridge through Westover/Granville
Construction on the new "Rock Creek" interchange is underway in Boone County. The interchange will connect Corridor G with the Hobet Mine site that is being turned into the Rock Creek Development. The project hopes to attract new manufacturing businesses to Boone County, and boost the economy of Southern WV. https://www.wsaz.com/2023/07/20/boon...g-development/
In Roane County, work continues on a new section of US-33 that will bypass dangerous sections of the old road. The project is going to really help Roane County not be so isolated. https://original.newsbreak.com/@west...n-roane-county
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