At some point in the not-too-distant future, Congress is going to have to finally pass a new multi-year surface transportation bill. When this does finally occur, it could be the region’s best chance to secure additional federal funds for the King Coal Highway and the Coalfields Expressway.
The latest temporary highway extension bill will expire in March. That’s when lawmakers in Washington will have to take up another federal highway bill, or approve yet another temporary extension. The lack of action to date on a new long-term highway bill has created great uncertainty for supporters of the King Coal Highway and the Coalfields Expressway.
Despite the uncertainty, local highway supporters are not giving up on the fight for federal funding. Just last week, a delegation of King Coal Highway supporters from Mercer, McDowell, Mingo and Wayne counties traveled to Washington and renewed their pitch for federal funding.
The local King Coal Highway Authority members met with U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va. Those who made the trip to Washington included Mercer County Commissioner Mike Vinciguerra, Christine West, Julie Ball, Shirley Vinciguerra and Tom Hall, all from Mercer County, along with King Coal Highway Authority Executive Director Mike Mitchem, Mingo County Commissioner Dave Baisden and several other officials.
The group requested $66.9 million in federal funds to continue construction of the King Coal Highway in Mercer County from the new Christine West Interchange in Bluefield to Route 123 and the Mercer County Airport. That would create a usable 2.39-mile section of the local Intestate 73/74/75 corridor in Mercer County.
The group also requested $49 million in federal funds for the construction of the King Coal Highway/Coalfields Expressway interchange in Welch at the Indian Ridge Industrial Park and $140 million for the development of a three-mile section of the King Coal Highway from Mary Taylor Mountain to Buffalo Mountain in Mingo County. The group is also seeking $40 million for the Tolsia segment of the roadway in Wayne County.
We applaud the local delegation members for standing up, and fighting for funding for the King Coal Highway. We realize we are now in an era of belt tightening and fiscal responsibility, but if you don’t stand up and fight for funding, you aren’t going to receive anything.
We once again urge our representatives in Washington to do everything in their power to fund the latest requests sought by the King Coal Highway Authority. It is imperative for additional funds to be found to help create a usable segment of the new four-lane corridor in Mercer County. The same goes for the long-planned interchange of the King Coal Highway/Coalfields Expressway in Welch.
Funding spent on modern infrastructure, including roads, water, sewer and broadband, is a wise investment in the future.
Editorials
October 19, 2011
King Coal Highway Federal funding fight continues
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