Construction on the new $16.2 million King Coal Highway bridge project in Bluefield is finally complete.
The new twin interstate bridges span about 160 feet high above Route 19 taking the local Interstate 73/74 corridor from the existing K.A. Ammar Interchange in Bluefield toward Stoney Ridge.
The next phase of the project would extend the King Coal Highway toward Route 123, and the Mercer County Airport. However, it will take about $60 million in additional federal funds to reach the airport. Until those federal funds are available, work on the King Coal Highway in Bluefield remains stalled.
However, there is hope for additional federal funding. U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., has requested $60 million in the new 2010 federal highway transportation bill to allow for a continuation of the King Coal Highway to Route 123 and the airport.
The highway project also could still qualify for the second round of federal stimulus transportation dollars. Mike Mitchem, executive director of the King Coal Highway Authority, said officials could learn as early as February if the King Coal Highway will be awarded additional federal stimulus dollars.
It is our hope that additional federal funding will be approved for the next Mercer County segment of the King Coal Highway. We strongly urge all of our lawmakers in Washington, including Rahall, U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., and U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., to continue their fight for federal funding for this all important future interstate corridor for southern West Virginia.
The King Coal Highway, which is proposed to extend from Bluefield to Williamson, has been designated as a high priority corridor in the National Highway System.
A recently completed economic impact study by Chmura Economics and Analytics of Richmond concluded that the completion of the King Coal/Tolsia Highway in southern West Virginia could help sustain 2,020 jobs with an annual economic impact of $220.3 million. The study also found that the new King Coal Highway and Tolsia Highway corridors will provide $23.6 million in annual cost savings for current businesses located along the highway as a result of improved travel efficiency.
The study also concluded that the construction and ongoing existence of the King Coal Highway will inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the I-73 corridor and provide jobs in construction, retail, service and warehouse industries.
It is clearly imperative for us to continue the construction of the King Coal Highway in southern West Virginia, and Mercer County in particular. We remain hopeful that additional federal funds will be awarded soon for this all-important future four-lane corridor for southern West Virginia.
