I am excited – and I trust you are, too – about the highway improvements now on their way to the southern part of our state. Opening up southern West Virginia – and doing it now – is absolutely essential. The Coalfields Expressway, coupled with the King Coal Highway, will bring that to pass in a way unimaginable just a decade ago.
Everyone recognizes that this part of our state needs diversified economic growth, and that growth is dependent upon modern transportation. The Expressway will give us four-lane travel between the West Virginia Turnpike and the Virginia Border. Then, as we add the east-west King Coal Highway, we will begin to see the result of all our planning and performance.
I have told the Division of Highways that I consider this is a critical element of our overall state highway plan, and they have responded by giving it priority consideration. While complying with all the federal and state requirements will take time, the project has already proceeded to a point where the preferred route has been selected, and environmental and historic-site studies are completed.
We are also working closely with the Virginia Department of Transportation, since the project extends beyond our border to reach Slate, VA. That cooperation began in 1993, and will continue until you and I are driving the full 62 miles of this important highway.
Building major arteries through our beautiful mountains is never easy, but once the commitment and resolve are present, we can accomplish whatever we must do. The Coalfields Expressway obviously is necessary for the future of southern West Virginia. We can – and we will – build it as rapidly as humanly possible. |
