By Stephen Smoot
The day before the holiday known in Appalachia as “Old Christmas” advocates of completing Appalachian Corridor H received a treat.
The United States Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration issued a “Finding of No Significant Impact” in reference to the planned extension of Corridor H, also styled U.S. Route 48 from just west of Wardensville to the Virginia State Line
While most often regarded as a preferred route for tourists from Northern Virginia and elsewhere to access some of West Virginia’s best skiing, fishing, hiking, and scenery, the extension is expected to help to better connect freight traffic to ports within the Commonwealth of Virginia.
According to Construction Equipment Guide, a national online trades publication “offering construction and industry news and information, it states that “when completed, Corridor H will connect to international ports including the Virginia Inland Port and Port of Norfolk, Va. The port access will shorten truck drivers’ trips and remains critical to manufacturers.”
The publication also shared that the West Virginia Department of Transportation shared that the completion of Corridor H will “improve east-west transportation through northwestern West Virginia, promote economic development in the region and preserve or improve the quality of life in the region.”
West Virginia Metro News reported recently that West Virginia Department of Transportation Secretary Stephen Todd Rumbaugh shared an update on Corridor H. He stated that construction from Squirrel Gap Road to Waites Run Road would open in the spring and would conclude in 2030. The next segment on the stretch will go out for bid in the fall.
A FONSI notice indicates that final state and federal agency actions have taken place. Furthermore, it states that “a claim seeking judicial review of the Federal Agency actions on the listed highway project will be barred unless the claim is filed on or before June 4, 2026. If the Federal law that authorizes judicial review of a claim provides a time period of less than 150 days for filing such claim, then that shorter time period still applies.”
The notice adds that “WVDOH and other Federal agencies have taken final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1) by issuing licenses, permits, or approvals for the proposed improvement highway project.” These include, but are not limited to agencies operating and permitting under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act, the Noise Control Act, Endangered Species Act, Historic and Cultural Resources preservation regulations, social and economic related, Clean Water Act and others relating to wetlands and water resources, hazardous materials, and various Executive Orders.
The finding means that the planned road will not create significant impacts in those areas and that a full Environmental Impact Statement is not necessary.
Six decades have passed since the opening of the project. The Kerens to Parsons stretch is expected to finish soon, bringing Hardy County much closer in terms of driving time to central West Virginia. Wardensville to the Virginia State Line will start this year with Parsons to Thomas still clearing regulatory hurdles.
The Commonwealth of Virginia has shown little interest in completing Corridor H to Interstate 81, but will continue to see increasing traffic, especially commercial, over its section of US 48.
Officials in the past speculated on an old political feud between former United States Representative Frank Wolf and former United States Senator Robert C. Byrd being the sticking point. Decades have passed since their tenure in office, however, so costly priorities around Northern Virginia and the state capital of Richmond are likely a more significant factor.
