DAVIS, W.Va. — A black asphalt ribbon now cuts across the top of the mountain and winds through some of West Virginia’s most picturesque scenery. State dignitaries joined atop the mountain and dedicated the latest stretch of Corridor H between Bismarck in Grant County and the town of Davis in Tucker County Thursday.
One by one, stretches of the four-lane highway, which was originally launched almost three decades ago continue to open. Each stretch seems to be more scenic than the last. The opening of the most recent section means visitors from Metro Washington D.C. and northern Virginia have a rapid and solid route into the mountains of West Virginia. It’s something which excites Jessica Scowcroft, executive director of the Tucker County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“We’re excited that it opens an easier way for the DC/Virginia/Maryland visitors to get to us directly,” she said on MetroNews “Talkline.” “It will also be a thru-way for those trying to get to the remaining section of Corridor H.”
The original plan of Corridor H was to link I-79 in Weston to Interstate 81 in Virginia via a four-lane highway. The route the highway takes represents years of study, compromise, and several careers worth of planning and execution. Scowcroft said the result has been a crown jewel for West Virginia.
“You wouldn’t believe how many people come into the visitors center and say, ‘What a beautiful road and what a quick way, we had no idea we could get here this fast,'” she said. “We’re seeing an uptick and a trend toward more visitors from those areas.”
The road makes it possible to be in West Virginia from Washington in only a couple of hours. The shorter drive time, ease of commuting, and scenic route make it an attractive day trip or weekend getaway for those who live in the Washington D.C. area.
Still left to be built is the stretch between Parsons in Tucker County to Kerens in Randolph County. Work on the stretch has already begun and with the completion of the 9.8 mile stretch dedicated Thursday, efforts will be concentrated there now. The West Virginia Division of Highways anticipates opening the stretch from Thomas to Kerens in three separate phases.