Given the current push by lawmakers in Washington to cut billions in federal spending, now would not appear to be best time to be requesting more than $245 million in federal funds.
But that’s exactly what local supporters of the King Coal Highway are doing. Their federal funding request shouldn’t be ignored by lawmakers. Roads, water, sewer and broadband are essential infrastructure that should not be allowed to fall by the wayside while political partisan bickering continues over budget cuts in Washington.
A local delegation of King Coal Highway Authority and I-73/74 Corridor Association supporters traveled to Washington last week to argue their case. They arrived in the midst of a political frenzy over a threatened shutdown of the federal government, but were still able to meet with local lawmakers, U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., and U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore-Capito, R-W.Va., along with representatives of U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.
“I hope we had a good visit, but one thing is certain,” Marc Meachum, a member of the authority board said. “If we don’t do this, we won’t have any chance of getting funding for this highway project.”
The group is seeking $66.9 million to construct a 2.39-mile section of the King Coal Highway in Mercer County extending from the new twin bridges above Stoney Ridge to the Mercer County Airport. If fully funded, this would create a usable segment of the King Coal Highway in Mercer County.
The local delegation is also seeking $20 million in federal funds for the construction of the interchange of the King Coal Highway and the Coalfields Expressway at the Indian Ridge Industrial Park in Welch, and another $140 million for the construction of a 5.3-mile section of the King Coal Highway from Mary Taylor Mountain to Buffalo Mountain. The group is also requesting $18 million for the construction of the Sharon Heights Connector near Gilbert.
We applaud the local delegation members for standing up, and fighting for funding for the King Coal Highway. We realize the timing isn’t good, but if you don’t fight for funding support odds are you won’t receive it.
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. At the moment, the new twin bridges in Bluefield are not usable. That’s unfortunate.
The same goes for McDowell County. Additional funding must be found to help complete this long-planned interchange of the King Coal Highway and the Coalfields Expressway at the Indian Ridge Industrial Park in Welch.
Critical infrastructure such as roads, water, sewer and broadband should not become a victim of Washington budget cuts.
Editorials
April 13, 2011
King Coal Highway: Search for federal funds continue
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