Charleston Leader

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, visited Parsons, W.Va., where she hosted Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Administrator Shailen Bhatt to review construction projects on Corridor H. This corridor is the final section of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) in West Virginia.

During their visit, Senator Capito and Administrator Bhatt, accompanied by West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) Secretary Jimmy Wriston, toured completed elements of the highway, bridge construction efforts, and ongoing excavation for future projects.

“West Virginians across the state know how important completing Corridor H is," stated Senator Capito. "As Ranking Member of the Senate EPW Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have made securing federal resources for the highway a top priority. I invited Administrator Bhatt to West Virginia to see firsthand why Corridor H is vital to our state’s economic future, as well as the unique challenges our state’s topography presents in building new roads. I will continue working to secure federal funding and improve the permitting and environmental review process so that we can finish Corridor H.”

Administrator Bhatt expressed his support for the project: “I’m excited to join Ranking Member Capito today for a tour of Corridor H to get a firsthand look at this critical project and the surrounding communities that will benefit from improved connectivity, mobility and economic opportunities. Investing in rural America is a top priority for the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration is working closely with the West Virginia Department of Transportation on Corridor H, including overseeing active construction underway on the Kerens to Parsons segment, which includes $603 million in Federal funding. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners in West Virginia to advance this important project.”

Senator Capito has secured funding through various sources for Corridor H:

- December 6, 2018: $20 million through DOT’s Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grants.

- May 31, 2019: $100 million through DOT’s Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects (NSFLTP) program.

- June 15, 2020: $12 million from DOT for pavement completion.

- December 22, 2022: $5 million via Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS).

- March 23, 2024: $12.5 million through CDS.

The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act provides over $3 billion in transportation formula funding from 2022 to 2026 under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Since 2022, over $202 million has been allocated towards Corridor H.

Additional funds included:

- IIJA supplemental appropriation provided $37 million in 2022.

- Similar amounts are expected yearly until 2026.

Senator Capito has also advocated for annual inclusion of $15 million for ADHS projects since 2020.

In June this year, Senator Capito discussed delays in Corridor H's construction with Administrator Bhatt.

Photos from today's event include:

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito touring Corridor H with FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt in Parsons on August 13, 2024.

Senator Shelley Moore Capito pictured at Corridor H with FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt and other local officials on August 13, 2024.

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