Nov. 2025:
WVDOH, FHWA Issue FONSI, irk Virginia and West Virginia businesses
West Virginia Division of Highways and Federal Highway Administration issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) dated “November 2025” on the section of Corridor H from Wardensville to the Virginia Line. The FONSI makes excuses for all the environmental and economic problems we’ve been raising. Having gone through several public comment periods since 2022, many people active in local business and environmental concerns still do not see the need for a $540 million fourlane to nowhere, ending at the Virginia line. Above: download the West Virginia HIghlands Conservancy a press release Dec. 19, 2025, criticizing the FONSI
Read, think–then organize! Here’s the WVDOH document Nov. 2025: FONSI LINK
WV Highway Dept, bombarded with Corridor H complaints, says funds now scarce for big projects.
August 2025:
In a political victory for our viewpoint, West Virginia’s Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey, without mentioning Corridor H by name, announced that WVDOH now has little money for big projects and will focus on fixing the many deficient bridges around the state. We applaud this common-sense move by Gov. Morrisey. Morrisey announces DOT reforms | News, Sports, Jobs – The Intermountain
This announcement followed a series of detailed comments dumped on WVDOH by environmentalists and citizens June 1, panning the embattled $475 million four-lane highway project section from Wardensville to the Virginia line. West Virginia moves to complete Corridor H to state border; Virginia plans for impacts | Nvdaily | nvdaily.com
WVDOH’s dashboard showing the status of the Wardensville-VA Line Corridor H project can be viewed HERE: Appalachian Corridor H, Wardensville to Virginia State Line Project | Permitting Dashboard The US Forest Service has now agreed to consider a Special Use permit.
Historical library of WVDOH’s Corridor H environmental documents: click HERE Corridor H Document Library Environmental groups have compiled maps at the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance (ABRA) site HERE Corridor H Development in the Upper Potomac (Wardensville)
According to the August 2025 timetable WVDOH is scheduled to release, by end of October 2025, an environmental document answering the many comments raised by citizens, groups and businesses in the Corridor H Wardensville-VA Line comment period ended June 1, 2025. WVDOH can choose to issue a FONSI (Finding of No Significant Impact) which would, if unchallenged, allow construction in the 6.8 mile section paralleling Route 55 from Wardensville going over North Mountain to the Virginia line. Groups including Stewards of the Potomac Highlands are readying for a legal challenge to a FONSI.
Or WVDOH, as we have urged, can choose to issue a new full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which would extend the time for more environmental, economic, and traffic issues to be brought up. WVDOH is already doing a full EIS on the also-controversial Davis to Parsons section in Tucker County to be issued in August 2026. Citizens Welcome Expanded Corridor H Study – Parsons Advocate
Stewards and other environmental, historical, and business groups laid out our many concerns during the Environmental Assessment (EA) comment period ending June 1. These included the Wardensville drinking water wells which would be impacted by construction blasting the Anderson Ridge aquifer; the functional uselessness of a four-lane which would stop at the Virginia line and save through-drivers only five minutes; the loss of tourist business from a four-lane bypass of Main Street Wardensville; failure to deal with local traffic complications; and failure to document and deal with impacts to the George Washington National Forest (GWNF). Citizens comments at a WVDOH public hearing April 22, 2025 at East Hardy High School were recorded by Loki Kern of Friends of Blackwater HERE
A coalition of environmental and history groups in both Virginia and West Virginia wrote separate, extensive letters to the US Forest Service demanding complete reporting on GWNF forest fragmentation, endangered species, the Potomac Appalachian Tuscarora Trail, and the Civil War battlefields which would be torn up if Corridor H continued its path into Virginia.
Copies of these letters of June 1, 2025 are shared in downloadable files below. We at Stewards thank all the groups below, and the over 150 citizens who submitted comment letters to raise H— about this unneeded, expensive, destructive four-lane highway project. Spot safety improvements on Route 55 will do just fine, thank you.
MORE INFO sponsored by WV Highlands Conservancy: SAVE WARDENSVILLE
Keep up with local H news at the Save Wardensville: No to Corridor H facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/487987436499810
Read the group letters of June 1, 2025
What plants and critters in our area are threatened by a new four-lane?
See the Biological Assessment: posted Feb. 2025
Thanks to a FOIA by the environmental mapping group Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance (ABRA) we now have a copy of the Biological Assessment (BA) from WVDOH and US Fish and Wildlife Service about the effect of the proposed highway on endangered plants and animals. Notice that the cover shows no animals and very little plant landscape.
Charleston Gazette exposes WVDOH’s sloppy shortcuts
Charleston Gazette reporter Mike Tony’s investigation shows enviros’ Corridor H complaints are backed by evidence of WVDOH violations and shortcuts
Complete Jan. 20, 2024 Gazette story here
Gazette points out shortcuts in enviro permitting
Stewards Balk at WVDOH boss Build-it Bluster and Blather
WVDOH chief Jimmy Wriston ended the year 2023 with a continued call to “build Corridor H responsibly and as fast as it can be done.” He said Gov. Jim Justice is “impatient” and he wants to get the controversial sections in Tucker and Hardy County under contract by the end of 2024.
Wriston is under scrutiny for conflict of interest, as one of his sons now works at WVDOH and another at engineer contract firm Michael Baker Inc., frequently employed by WVDOH including for Corridor H work.
Stewards say: What’s the hurry to build a road to nowhere? We’ve done fine without these sections this long.
It’s a politicians’ highway! Gov. Justice and legislative buddies respond with bill for state-funded Corridor H lobbying
WOWK-TV story Feb. 6, 2024: https://www.wowktv.com/news/west-virginia/new-corridor-h-authority-closer-to-reality-in-west-virginia/
———————
No Rush for Corridor H
By Bonni McKeown, Stewards of the Potomac Highlands, Jan. 2, 2024
West Virginia Division of Highways chief Jimmy Wriston recently vowed to have two unbuilt and controversial sections of Corridor H under contract by the end of 2024.
The two sections in question — the nine mile, $467 million stretch from Parsons to Davis in Tucker County, and the $166 million, seven miles from Wardensville to the Virginia line in Hardy County — are the most sensitive in the 100-mile route. Legally, environmental reviews must be done before construction.
There are good reasons to be cautious when proposing huge permanent changes to local communities and Main Street economies, massively altering mountains, streams, forests and farms with blasting, earthmoving, and paving. Yet even with its Corridor H track record of muddied streams and half-built bridges caving in, WVDOH wants to rush through environmental studies and build, build, build.
Businesses, residents, and visitors who value, appreciate and depend on the natural and historic qualities of West Virginia have a right to full disclosure and honest deliberation based on updated facts of economics and science. The last full environmental impact studies were done in 1994-96.
In Tucker County, a local coalition, backed by national allies, has gone to great lengths to propose a practical “Go North” route that differs from WVDOH’s preferred alternative. “Go North” would avoid the four-lane splitting the towns of Davis and Thomas and avoid major impacts to Blackwater Canyon and historic areas near Thomas. But even with federal agencies’ encouragement, WVDOH so far is not treating the Go North proposal seriously. They’re just in a hurry to build, build, build.
In the other section, eastern Hardy County, the terrain is full of karst sinkholes, caves and springs—including the aquifer in the path of Corridor H that furnishes water for the Town of Wardensville and many homeowners’ wells. When the politicians leave office, and the highway engineers and construction contractors are all done, they get paid and go home. Those who live, work and recreate here get stuck with their mess. A mess not easy to clean up.
DOH’s Wriston no doubt hopes his urgent words for Corridor H might nicely detract from public focus on his conflict of interest problems. But for the citizens and taxpayers, what’s the rush? Our area has done fine for years without these sections of Corridor H.
Further, Corridor H remains a “Road to Nowhere.” WVDOH has no agreement from Virginia to build its proposed section of Corridor H from the state line to Interstates 81 and 66. Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board retains its plans NOT to build the four-lane. In October 2022, Shenandoah County, VA and the town of Strasburg renewed their opposition by passing resolutions against Corridor H.
Let’s just ignore Mr. Wriston’s build-it blathering, and proceed cautiously and slowly on Corridor H. Environmental studies need to respect the millions of years Nature took to build our Potomac Highlands mountains, forests, and rivers.
This op-edit piece was published in the Charleston Gazette and in the WV Highlands Conservatory VOICE.
Stewards to highway officials: Nov. 13, 2023: We want a new EIS!
In our Nov. 13, 2023 comment letter, Stewards called on WV Division of Highways and Federal Highway Admministration to do a whole new Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Wardensville-Virginia Line section of Corridor H. A full EIS would reopen the issues of whether we need Corridor H in this area at all, whether some of the intended purposes could be accomplished in ways less damaging to the environment and the local community.
Federal Highways response 12/19/23: We’ll think about it…
Federal Highway Administration, in a reply to Stewards Dec. 19, 2023, reiterated that it will consider an EIS as part of a smaller study which it had planned to do in late 2023-early 2024, known as an Environmental Assessment (EA).
WV Highlands Conservancy, during the fall comment period summarized major Wardensville-Virginia Line issues:
https://www.wvhighlands.org/article/comments-needed-corridor-h-eastern-end-still-a-road-to-nowhere/
Other environmental and community groups submitted comments during November 2023:
Wardensville Mayor Urges WVDOH Not to Ruin Town Water
WV Rivers Coalition Comments 11/23
Shenandoah Alliance Comments 11/23
Info room on Corridor H
at Wville Fall Fest 2023
(Aerial view of Wardensville, WVa)
In spite of rainy weather, several dozen Wardensville residents and visitors stopped by the Corridor H information room at Wardensville Visitors Center during the town’s Fall Festival Oct. 13-14. Stewards of Potomac Highlands and Save Wardensville sponsored the display,, complete with road maps, and answered questions to the best of our knowhow.
WVDOH Public meeting Sept. 21, 2023 in Wardensville draws question: Why?
Don’t want Wardensville, farms and forests torn up for a Road to Nowhere? A roomful of people came to WVDOH’s Sept. 21 public info meeting at the War Memorial Building, Main Street. They asked a lot of questions, and heard about WVDOH’s immediate plans. But the basic question — WHY Corridor H from Wardensville to the Virginia line? what’s the hurry? remained unanswered. Your next chance to send in comments for the public record concludes Oct. 23, 2023.
Latest info is on WVDOH’s Corridor H page: https://transportation.wv.gov/highways/engineering/comment/CorridorH-WardensvilletoVaLine/Pages/default.aspx
Press Release from Stewards 9/18/2023
Announced on public radio: https://wvpublic.org/wvdoh-to-hold-public-meeting-on-corridor-h-in-hardy-county/
Shouldn’t the public be notified about core drilling? We think so!
Core drilling (or core boring) is done by highway engineers and builders to test the ground ahead of construction to see what kind of rock is under the ground, from 10 feet to around 200 feet below. Sometimes if they find a cavern or old mine, they will move the road alignment a short distance away. Core drilling usually comes right before construction–not as a part of environmental studies ahead of time. Core drilling is invasive to landowners–including private homes and farms, and the National Forest– because it involves big machines and access roads. The WV Highway Division notified landowners of these drillings, but not the public, so no one had a chance to discuss or comment. For this reason, Stewards lawyer Andrew Earley filed a formal protest with EPA.
This news reached the Charleston Gazette .
The Highlands Conservancy Voice: WVDOH opened a comment period ending Dec. 29, 2023: https://www.wvhighlands.org/2023/12/15/wvdep-to-hear-residents-concerns-regarding-core-drilling-in-the-monongahela-national-forest-for-corridor-h-on-dec-19/
Lawyer Andrew Earley’s letter to EPA about core drilling public notice:
Tucker Countians Win a Re-study of Northern Route; Politicians counter with new pro-H Authority
In August 2023, Federal Highway Administration the WV Division of Highways and environmental groups in Tucker County that it is requiring a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to include study of a northern route for the highway. The groups, including Friends of Blackwater Canyon and Corridor H Alternatives, advocate a route, to possibly include two-lane sections and provisions for through trucks. They do not oppose Corridor H as such, but aim for any road project to provide better access to the towns of Davis and Thomas while avoiding major environmental damage to the Canyon and nearby historical areas.
The immediate reaction from pro-build forces was: “oh, no– if the Corridor H route changes, it will take too long to build it right…” In February 2024, backed by “build-it” blatherings from Gov. Jim Justice, the W.Va. state senate passed a bill to fund a “Corridor H Authority” to promote economic development. This appeared to be a beef-up version of the Corridor H Authority headed by Robbie Morris, whose opinion piece in the Charleston Gazette claimed that WVDOH’s preferred route was the best for both traffic and the environment.
Thomas resident Sadie Hammack immediately questioned this in a letter to the Elkins Inter-Mountain, saying Morris offered no facts to back up his arguments that Blackwater Avoidance (Go North) Alternative as “a longer, more expensive, destructive, and problematic route”; that it would “impact the Thomas water source, Thomas city park, and so much more”; or that it would require the loss of “multiple homes.”
The Federal Highway Administration on Feb. 6, 2024, published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register for a new Supplemental EIS on the Tucker County section of Corridor H, saying that both WVDOH’s preferred alternative and the Go North plan would be considered.
FULL Tucker “Go North” PRESS RELEASE Aug. 2023:
WV Highways to Consider Northern Route for Corridor H from Parsons to Davis
THOMAS, W.Va.—Concerned citizens say they are encouraged by news that the West Virginia Division of Highways will consider a northern route for Corridor H from Parsons to Davis—avoiding splitting the towns of Thomas and Davis and impacting the Blackwater Canyon area.
The Go North Corridor H Alliance was notified via email by the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration that an upcoming report will include study of “a Blackwater Avoidance Alternative,” a term given to a northern route that has long been advocated by local citizens.
“We who live here know what a wonderful, unique place it is. The many visitors who love coming here and contribute to our local economy understand this too,” said Linda Reeves, owner of The Studio Gallery in Thomas. “We only get one chance at this, and it needs to be a win-win for all of us. We are glad that citizen voices are being heard.”
A previous study issued for the Parsons to Davis section—the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement—was completed in 2007 but has yet to receive approval from the Federal Highway Administration and is now outdated. A reevaluation of this study is underway and will now include study of a northern route in addition to the West Virginia Division of Highway’s preferred route, known as the Revised Original Preferred Alternative (ROPA).
“We all want protection for one of the state’s most popular state parks, Blackwater Falls, as well as historic sites and a number of popular recreational trails that ROPA would heavily impact,” said Matt Marcus, manager of Blackwater Bikes in Davis.
Understanding the full impact of these two alternative alignments will offer the public more clarity on the project and update consideration of the region’s developing economy and special quality of life.
“Members of the Go North Corridor H Alliance applaud the Federal Highway Administration and the West Virginia Division of Highways for studying a northern route and addressing questions raised by stakeholders during the public comment periods,” said Olivia Miller, Alliance member and board member of the Stewards of the Potomac Highlands.
“A project of this magnitude will forever alter the landscape of Tucker County and our precious public lands, which provide the invaluable benefits of nature to us all,” Miller continued. “Considering the extent of problems and mistakes made during construction of the Kerens to Parsons section of the Corridor, more research is needed to identify the route that will cause the least environmental harm during construction and afterward. I am optimistic that state highway officials will design a route aptly suited for this special area of West Virginia.”
The Federal Highway Administration and West Virginia Division of Highways are developing a Notice of Intent for the updated Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. The Notice of Intent is expected to be published in the Federal Register later this year.
“We are excited about the opportunity for the Blackwater Avoidance Alternative to be considered, and we’re confident that Governor Justice and the Department of Highways will see the wisdom of selecting this route,” said Judy Rood, Director of Friends of Blackwater, Inc. “We look forward to continuing our dialog with the Governor’s office and the Division of Highways.”
Go North Corridor H is an alliance of environmental groups, business owners, and residents in Hardy, Tucker, Randolph, and nearby counties advocating for a route that best serves our communities and imparts the least harm on these environmentally sensitive and unique areas of West Virginia. Learn more at go-northcorridorh.org and http://www.saveblackwater.org
-GO NORTH CORRIDOR H ALLIANCE-
08/28/2023
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Judy Rodd, Executive Director, Friends of Blackwater
info@saveblackwater.org, (304) 552-7602
Olivia Miller, WV Highlands Conservancy media
oliviahmiller@gmail.com, (304) 704-2997
Linda Reeves, owner of The Studio Gallery in Thomas
openplains@hotmail.com, 347-578-5532
Matt Marcus, manager of Blackwater Bikes in Davis
marcuscycle@yahoo.com, (304) 642-2702
Stewards ask update to W-ville EIS
in Dec. 12, 2022 comments to WVDOH
Citizens have a voice; Corridor H comes from our tax dollars. Don’t let highway bullies run over you! In our Dec. 12, 2022 comment letter to the WV Highway Department, Stewards called for an updated supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to deal with issues like these:
- Corridor H runs through the Wellhead Protection area for Wardensville’s drinking water. Can WVDOH avoid messing it up?
- Waites Run and Trout Run are high quality trout streams. WVDOH must control their construction runoff, mud can choke fish to death. What’s their plan?
- Would the road be built by cutting into Andersons Ridge, or on piers?
- What would WVDOH do about unsafe road conditions created by Corridor H, such as a the sharp downhill curve they plan as you come into town ?
- Trucks through Wardensville: Corridor H may not solve that problem, since many are headed toward Winchester on #259.
- Endangered species in our area include rusty patch bumblebees, running buffalo clover, and wood turtles. All are indicators of clean water and quiet forest areas—which Corridor H would destroy or disturb. I like living in the country the way it is!
- Virginia government, including the Shenandoah Board of Supervisors and Strasburg town council, have said NO to building Corridor H in Virginia. Then what’s the purpose of building the section from Wardensville to Virginia Line? Is there a better, cheaper way to improve the curves on Route 55 over North Mountain?
Comments from Friends of the Cacapon River
This watershed group expresses concern over streams, construction runoff, and traffic conditions in Wardensville. It sees no need to build Corridor H in West Virginia if Virginia has no plans to build its section.
Comments from Town of Wardensville
The town has many comments concerning its water supply, diversion of tourist traffic away from Main Street,, and safety hazards created by the new road–and suggestions for WVDOH to mitigate these issues.
Comments from WV Rivers Coalition
This statewide environmental group follows the science of streams and has caught WVDOH violating dozens of laws and regulations in earlier Corridor H construction east of Elkins.
Virginians weigh in
Civil War battlefields, mountain spring outlets, and generations-old farms and forests lie in the path of Corridor H. Many Virginians say they don’t need the four-lane and hope it never comes their way.
WVDOH Chief Not a Fan of Bumblebees or Homeowners Messed over in Roadbuilding
Archived video of WVDOT secretary Jimmy Wriston: Sept. 11 2022’s W.Va. legislative oversight committee, the discussion on Corridor H starts at the 5:16:00 mark. Wriston railed against Federal Highway Administration and US Fish and Wildlife Service for doing their jobs to regulate their proposed bulldozing. Asked by a legislator about the faulty piers and damage to houses and wells done by the Kerens to Parsons construction, Wriston promised to plan ahead to avoid such wreckage in sections now proposed for construction. We ask you, the citizens, to join us in holding him accountable.
Highwaymen brag about tearing through mountains: engineering magazine article, March 1, 2023
Wardensville citizens hold info meetings
Oct. 30, Dec. 4, 2022
On Sunday afternoon, Oct. 30, 2022, Wardensville Visitor Center, 301 E. Main St., Stewards will join area residents seeking answers to the question: What would be the pros and cons, the local impact of Corridor H? A second meeting was held Dec. 4, 2022.
Heidi Flynn, who organized the meetings, said the discussion shed light on the consequences our town could incur during construction, and after the completion of Corridor H through and around Wardensville . “We aim to bring residents together so we can have clarity concerning the impact of Corridor H, without politicians, without gaslighting, and without financial motive.”
Those whose property is a part of the right-of-way purchase, we are doing our best to find assistance and guidance at no cost to the home/landowners, she said.
Keep up with local H news at the Save Wardensville: No to Corridor H facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/487987436499810
WVDOH 2022 comment Dec. 12
After a public meeting (please click for links to WVDOH handouts and docs) in Wardensville Aug. 18, and Stewards’ submission of a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requesting more info on the environmental impacts of the proposed construction the Federal Highway Administration and WV Division of Highways have extended the public comment period for both the Wardensville and Tucker County corridor H sections, first to Nov. 3, and then to Dec. 12, 2022.
UPDATE 12/12: WVDOH has extended Tucker County section comments to JAN 6, 2023.
You may comment online or in writing. Send your written comments to WVDOH: Mr. Travis Long, Director, Technical Support Division, WV Division of Highways, 1334 Smith St., Charleston, WV 25301. Send a copy to the Federal Highway Administration: Jason Workman, Director of Program Development, FHWA, 154 Court St., Charleston, WV 25301. Also if you have time, send a copy to U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, who are responsible for obtaining federal highway money.
Stewards submitted the following preliminary comment:
Regarding the Wardensville to Virginia Line section, Aug. 18, 2022:
Stewards of the Potomac Highlands, a 501c4 nonprofit citizens group in West Virginia’s northeastern counties dedicated to protecting our natural environment and supporting an environmentally and socially sustainable, locally-controlled economy, submits the following comment for the public meeting on Corridor H in Wardensville on Aug. 18, 2022. After obtaining information through this process, Stewards plans to file a more extensive comment.
Stewards does not see a need to build the section of Corridor H from Wardensville to the Virginia line. The two purposes given by WVDOH for Corridor H contradict each other: “improving east-west travel and promoting economic development in the region,” which we understand to be: getting traffic through the area vs. benefitting the local economy. During the past 20 years since the Corridor H Final EIS and Record of Decision, Wardensville has developed a robust tourist and local agricultural economy which will not benefit and will probably be harmed by having traffic bypass the town and rush through the area. Traffic counts are under 5000 and do not appear to justify a four-lane highway in this area. Virginia has not announced any plans to build its section to I-66. The availability of federal money, rather than true purpose and need, as indicated in public statements by WVDOH officials, appears to be motivating WVDOH’s 2022 push for construction.
There may be ways to build Corridor H to have the least negative impact on the local economy, forests, streams, groundwater and trails. We will offer further comments later in the comment period ending Sept. 19. We expect to receive helpful information in our FOIA request submitted to WVDOH June 30, 2022, acknowledged by Jill C. Dunn of WVDOH’s Legal Division on July 18, 2022. I wrote a follow up email to Ms. Dunn on Aug. 15 but have yet to receive a response. We urge WVDOH to provide us with substantive answers to our FOIA letter as soon as possible.
Because we lack substantive environmental information on which to base our comments, we request a 45 day extension of the comment period from Sept. 19 to Nov. 3. If we have not received a substantial response to our FOIA by then, we plan to request another extension.
NOTE: No information was forthcoming from WVDOH, and FHWA granted another extension of the comment period to Dec. 12, 2022.
Why Oppose Corridor H in the 2020s?
As Stewards of the Potomac Highlands said 20 years ago in our first newsletter of 2001, a billion-dollar four-lane rural highway from Elkins to I-66 is a waste of money. We’re with folks who say “Fix the Roads we already have.”
US Sen. Joe Manchin, D- WV has forced the issue in 2021 by ramming nearly $200 million into the national infrastructure bill for Appalachian Corridor roadbuilding in West Virginia. Corridor H now costs $24 to $50 million a mile to build.
Currently, 101 miles of Corridor H are built and open to traffic in West Virginia. Virginia has no plans to build its part, as shown by the absence of Corridor H in local and state transportation plans. Corridor H is still a “Road to Nowhere.”
What has been built does serve areas of some traffic, including Elkins in Randolph County and Moorefield in Hardy County. We ask: why not limit the project at this point?
Still slated for building are 31 miles, including the environmentally sensitive section from Parsons to Davis in the Blackwater Canyon area, and in the George Washington National Forest between Wardensville and the Virginia Line. If completed, Corridor H would mainly serve as throughway for goods from DC to I-79 rather than serving people who live in West Virginia and Virginia. That’s the purpose stated by politicians and economic developers pushing the four-lane: https://youtu.be/EFexGOjNfJg
Corridor H in the News
Raising H– in 2022-24
Feb. 6, 2024: Gov. Jim Justice pushes new Corridor H Authority— basically a state funded lobby for Corridor H and energy interests that say they’ll benefit.
Jan. 1, 2023 Metro News: Tucker County towns recognized as “gems”– without Corridor H section: https://wvmetronews.com/2024/01/01/study-finds-west-virginia-has-many-hidden-gems-in-overall-mountain-towns-across-u-s/
December 2023: WVDOH’s Wriston chomps at the bit to get Tucker and Hardy Corridor H sections under contract: https://wvmetronews.com/2023/12/26/doh-official-hopes-to-complete-corridor-h-this-year/
Dec. 15, 2023: WVDEP reluctantly allows public comment on Mon Forest core drilling: https://www.wvhighlands.org/2023/12/15/wvdep-to-hear-residents-concerns-regarding-core-drilling-in-the-monongahela-national-forest-for-corridor-h-on-dec-19/
WBOY-TV Aug. 27, 2023: WVDOH considering Tucker County’s “Go North” Route: https://www.wboy.com/news/tucker/see-it-wvdoh-corridor-h-parsons-to-davis-designs/
WASHINGTON POST: Destroying what people come here for?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2022/10/09/west-virginia-corridor-h-blackwater-falls/
WBOY TV report : Gov. Justice talking to Virginia on Cor H (but what are they saying?)
The latest on West Virginia’s top highway project, Corridor H? (wboy.com)
Capito in 2020 brags she got discretionary $$ for Cor H: ICYMI: Capito Op-Ed Outlines Efforts to Expedite Construction of Corridor H (senate.gov)
Thomas, Davis consider supporting northern route through Tucker County:
Public has chance to comment on Corridor H Parsons to Davis Project next month | WBOY.com
Metro News: July 2022: A better route?
Tucker County residents seek “better route” for Corridor H in Davis-Thomas area – WV MetroNews
WV Spotlight highlights Corridor H Alternatives’ “Go North” proposed reroute: https://mountainstatespotlight.org/2022/11/15/thomas-davis-corridor-h-highway-wv/
2020 Development Status and WVDOH Enviro Records
Click to see WVDOH’s Corridor H page, with maps and enviro statements going back to 1992: mahttps://transportation.wv.gov/highways/major-projects/Corridor-H/route/Pages/Wardensville-to-Virginia.aspx
A design alternative?
Corridor K in North Carolina and Tennessee is being built different than the standard four-lane, to better serve local residents and avoid damage to Nantahala and Cherokee National Forests thanks to an agreement with the highway department negotiated by the Southern Environmental Law Center. Sections of the project include improvements to existing rural roads. So– it can be done.
Corridor K should be a model for well planned mountain highway projects: https://wayssouth.org/corridor-k-should-be-a-model-for-future-highway-projects/
Wardensville: Traffic Doesn’t Justify
Traffic needs do not justify a four-lane road here. Traffic count maps from 2015 https://gis.transportation.wv.gov/aadt/ show much of the traffic on already-built Corridor H sections between Baker (west of Wardensville) and the Virginia line are sparsely traveled–well under 5,000 vehicles per day. In the busier sections around Elkins and Moorefield, WVDOH maps show the main roads with range of 5,000 to 50,000 vehicles per day. This range is too broad to make sense in a decision on whether a four-lane is really needed.
Meanwhile, we still need many other roads and bridges fixed. A 2017 report by the nonprofit transport group TRIP showed nearly 30% of major West Virginia roads in poor condition. https://www.wowktv.com/archives/most-west-virginia-major-roads-in-poor-condition/
Tucker County Looks at alternative northern route; sign the petition
Watch new VIDEO explaining how a northern route can avoid splitting the twin towns of Thomas and Davis, and avoid some environmental and historical impacts in the Blackwater Canyon area.
Over 3000 residents and patrons of Thomas-Davis area businesses have signed a petition in favor of the northern reroute. WVDOH has responded by scheduling a public info workshop 4-7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, 2022 at the Blackwater Falls State Park Conference Room in Davis according to this Elkins Inter-mountain article
SIGN THE Go North PETITION HERE on Change.org: https://www.change.org/p/a-better-route-for-corridor-h
Comments on Tucker County section
Climate Issues from Roadbuilding
A report by US Public Interest Research Group points out that new highways will not help us address climate change—a major threat in hilly West Virginia, as anyone who’s seen one of our floods and severe storms of the past few years can tell you.
For one thing, production of cement — a key material for highway construction — alone contributed 8 percent of the world’s CO2 emissions in 2016.
Moreover, expanding roads entrenches a transportation system responsible for massive pollution. More roads means more driving, and more driving means more pollution. For instance, RMI’s 2021 analysis of the Colorado transportation spending plan estimates that the increase in driving caused by new road construction would increase greenhouse gas emissions by 8 to 15 million tons of CO2-equivalent cumulatively through 2050.
Senator Manchin is one of the corporate Democrats now working in Congress to delay policies which would cut back on fossil fuel use. He made his money on coal. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/30/joe-manchin-climate-coal-baron-stocks
A national “fix it first” road policy debated earlier in 2021 for the infrastructure bill seems to have been dropped, thanks to those who would profit by building bigger roads
“Fix it First” Fact Sheet:
Local Damage to Streams, Habitat, Towns
To avoid the expense and unpopular hassle of taking private property, WVDOH tends to design its destructive projects on National Forest land. In the Wardensville-to state line section in Hardy County, this will result in damage not only to the scenery but trout streams and other natural assets used by wildlife and prized by humans– locals and visitors. Waites’ Run and Trout Run, high quality trout streams around Wardensville, would be crossed and damaged by roadbuilding, and the Tuscarora Trail (an Appalachian Trail spur) would be affected. Effects on groundwater, including the well that supplies the whole town of Wardensville, are even more profound due to the karst terrain, which is rated top level in its sensitivity to ground disturbance. Further, the new road would divert traffic from the town’s thriving Main Street economy based on heritage tourism in the charming historic districts.
In Tucker County, the Blackwater Canyon area between Parsons and Thomas (home to endangered species including the Big Eared Virginia Bat,) are slated for extensive damage from road destruction. Friends of Blackwater Canyon has submitted environmental impact comments. https://saveblackwater.org/corridor-h-comments/ Bypassing the twin towns of Davis and Thomas and Davis will hurt the towns’ tourist and locally-controlled economies which have built up over the last 20 years
Another longtime statewide enviro group, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, continues to monitor the court settlement which has slowed down Corridor H destruction for 20 years. https://wvhighlands.org/highways
Secondary damage would come from the sprawl which follows the completion of four-lanes such as the section of Corridor H around Moorefield, and Corridor G outside Charleston. H. . Corridor H will whisk travelers on by instead of encouraging them to stop in the towns, and will benefit gas stations and convenience stops outside of town. The towns themselves need infrastructure improvements more than they need a new highway.
Status of Corridor H, 2022
PAVING CONTRACT, Elkins to Parsons:
https://www.wdtv.com/2021/02/25/paving-work-to-begin-on-section-of-corridor-h/ From Kerens, east of Elkins in Randolph County, to east of Parsons, Tucker County where the corridor connects with Route 219, a contract for 7.5 miles of asphalt paving has been awarded to West Virginia Paving Inc., with a low bid of $29,970,497.14. The winning bid for the project was more than $6.5 million under the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) Engineer’s Estimate of $36,516,269.10. https://governor.wv.gov/News/press-releases/2021/Pages/Gov.-Justice-announces-award-of-Corridor-H-paving-project-from-Kerens-to-Parsons-a-Roads-To-Prosperity-project.aspx
Corridor H backers in West Virginia, such as Corridor H Authority https://corridorh.com/ , are drooling over Manchin’s prospective infusion of dollars.
PARSONS TO DAVIS: Blackwater Canyon at stake
But environmental groups may well sue to block construction if WVDOH sticks to its “preferred alternative” for the Parsons to Davis section–an alignment which would damage the towns of Thomas and Davis and the Blackwater Canyon area. https://wvhighlands.org/article/corridor-h-whose-highway/
Residents and patrons of businesses in Davis and Thomas are trying for a northern reroute: https://mountainstatespotlight.org/2022/11/15/thomas-davis-corridor-h-highway-wv/
WHAT ABOUT VIRGINIA?
West Virginia highway officials have long announced they intend to more-or-less force Virginia to build its section of Corridor h by bringing increased east-west traffic to the state line. https://www.wvpress.org/breaking-news/corridor-h-finishing-still-west-virginia-priority/
However, Virginia does not necessarily agree. The Commonwealth Transportation Board passed a resolution opposed to the construction of four-lane Corridor H within its borders (Final EIS 1996, Vol II, Appendix A).
In October 2022, Shenandoah County’s Board of Supervisors renewed a similar resolution: “There appear to be no benefits to the citizens of Shenandoah County. In fact we believe that building an Interstate of this magnitude to the Virginia Line would have significant adverse impacts on communities in Shenandoah County, and this must be considered before construction of the 6.8 mile section proposed from Wardensville, WV to the Virginia state line.”
FLAWED ECONOMIC PURPOSE
The Appalachian Corridor highway building program is based on a 1960s economic concept that building roads would create jobs. When such corridors connect two rural highways rather than large cities, experience has shown they don’t help towns, but create sprawl development. This destroys historic assets and more forest and farmland, and encourages more automobile driving.
Corridor H Authority claims Corridor H will create 574 West Virginia jobs annually They cite Inland Port in Front Royal, VA and the experimental Hyperloop facility near Elkins as industrial areas served. Ironically, they also claim benefits for small town tourism. Corridor H would chiefly harm the towns by causing traffic to bypass them.
Stewards continue to advocate that highway infrastructure budgets go toward safety improvements to the network of existing Potomac Highlands roads.
We are sharing with the public what we know about this wasteful and destructive project.
Stewards of the Potomac Highlands 