New Section of Corridor H Opens East of Elkins
A long-awaited section of Corridor H officially opened Monday, extending the four-lane highway from the Kerens area to Parsons and marking another major milestone in one of West Virginia's largest transportation projects.
State, federal and local officials gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the 11-mile stretch, which improves access between Randolph and Tucker counties and continues progress toward the eventual completion of the highway corridor.
The newly opened section provides motorists with a modern four-lane route through a region that previously relied on narrower, winding roads. Officials have long cited improved safety, travel efficiency and economic development opportunities as key benefits of the project.
Corridor H is part of the Appalachian Development Highway System and is designed to connect Interstate 79 near Weston with Interstate 81 in Virginia. The project has been under development for decades and has required hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal investment.
According to project officials, more than 113 miles of the approximately 130-mile corridor are now open to traffic. Additional work remains, including completion of the Cheat River Bridge and future segments extending toward Davis and the Virginia state line.
The newly opened section gives travelers a new perspective of eastern West Virginia's mountain landscape while bringing the state one step closer to completing the long-planned transportation corridor.
