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Publication: Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Release Date: 04/28/2010
If you don’t succeed, then redouble the effort. And that’s exactly what local supporters of the King Coal Highway are doing. Members of the King Coal Highway Authority Board traveled back to Washington last week, and renewed their plea with lawmakers for $66.9 million in federal dollars needed to create a usable segment of the local Interstate 73/74 corridor in Bluefield.
The local Mercer County delegation — joined by board members from Wayne, Mingo and McDowell counties — met with U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and representatives of U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va.
The group renewed their request for $66.9 million in federal funds needed to build a 2.39-mile segment of the King Coal Highway that would begin at Stoney Ridge near the recently completed twin interstate bridges. It would extend toward Route 123 and the area of the Mercer County Airport creating a usable segment of the local interstate corridor in Mercer County.
The group also requested $20 million to build the proposed interchange of the King Coal Highway and the Coalfields Expressway in Welch near the new federal prison project at the Indian Ridge Industrial Park in McDowell County.
The Wayne and Mingo county representatives also sought funding for additional segments of the Tolsia Highway in Wayne County, as well as funding for a proposed $140 million segment of the roadway in Mingo County that would create a usable section of the road extending from Route 119 at Belo all the way to Horsepen Mountain.
This is not the first time we’ve asked for funding to help build a usable segment of the King Coal Highway in Mercer County, and the interchange of the Coalfields Expressway and the King Coal Highway in McDowell County. And, most likely, it won’t be the last time we ask our lawmakers in Washington for help.
We saw a great window of opportunity when the federal stimulus transportation dollars were announced. Unfortunately, we were shut out of the first round of federal stimulus funding dollars. However, we won’t give up the fight. Eventually, someone is Washington is going to hear our plea.
We need the King Coal Highway in southern West Virginia. We need a usable segment of the King Coal Highway in Mercer County. And McDowell County simply needs a four-lane highway — period. We are still waiting for assistance.
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