WELCH — McDowell County’s federal prison project combined with a renewed showing of grassroots support should help to expedite construction of the Coalfields Expressway in southern West Virginia, officials said Monday.

With approximately $58 million in existing state and federal funds currently identified for the project, officials are hoping to award another construction contract on the four-lane highway this fall, Delegate Richard Browning, D-Wyoming, also executive director of the Coalfields Expressway Authority, said

"Hopefully, the federal prison will accelerate the construction of the road to that point," Browning said of the McDowell County segment of the four-lane highway.

Although construction was completed several years ago on an unpaved segment of the expressway in McDowell County, work in recent years has been focused on a 3.5 mile segment of the expressway in Raleigh County extending to the Wyoming County line. However, it will take continued support from the public to ensure the continuation of the highway construction in McDowell, Wyoming and Raleigh counties, Browning said.

"We have a beautiful, partially completed road," Browning said of the Raleigh County segment. "A lot of people are driving on it. I think that in itself has created some renewed interest. But we are going to have to put on a full force press to keep the project going. I would encourage everyone to write the governor a letter just encouraging him to keep the construction going."
Browning said a recent meeting between supporters of the highway project, including Wyoming County Circuit Clerk David Stover, and Gov. Joe Manchin, proved to be very successful.

"It has certainly gotten the governor’s attention," Browning said of a recent walk from Welch to Charleston in support of the highway. "The fact that we had a four-and-a-half-hour meeting with the governor, and the things the governor said, places a renewed emphasis on it. Even though the governor didn’t direct highways to make any changes to anything they’ve done so far, he did tell them to look at alternatives for more funding."

Browning said the $58 million in existing funds identified for the highway also could be used toward a new construction contract award that is possible this month.

"It absolutely wasn’t new money," Browning said of recent media reports concerning the $58 million. "That’s money that we’ve accumulated through different appropriations bills, and different federal bills. Some of it is available now, and some of it isn’t."

In another sign of progress, Browning said three additional design contracts between Sophia in Raleigh County and Mullens in Wyoming County also were given a notice to proceed last week.