PARSONS, W.Va. — Officials in West Virginia have broken ground on one of the remaining sections of the US-48 expressway, opening more of the scenic route across the Allegheny Mountains in the northern and eastern state to east-west interstate commerce.
The route importantly provides greater access to the northern reaches of the Monongahela National Forest and the Canaan Valley, a top center for outdoor recreation in the northern Mountain State.
When complete, the expressway will link Interstates 79 and 81, traversing what’s widely regarded as one of the most scenic regions in West Virginia. Currently, 113 miles of the expressway are open to traffic in West Virginia, and only 31 miles remain incomplete, including 15 miles under active construction.
Gov. Jim Justice joined W.Va. Department of Transportation officials for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of work on the third section of the Kerens-to-Parsons project.
“I can tell everyone here one thing,” Justice said. “My goal is for all of Corridor H to be under contract before I leave office. We’re going to finish this road.”
The term “Corridor H” refers to the expressway’s designation as one of more than 30 transportation routes to be completed throughout the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern U.S. as part of the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965.
“As I’ve said over and over, the single most important project in our state right now is Corridor H,” Justice said.
“Corridor H will connect all kinds of communities—from 