Published: July 15, 2008 05:38 pm      

Miles to go — Presidential veto would harm highway project

Legislation earmarking another $10 million in new federal funds for the King Coal Highway and the Coalfields Expressway has cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee, but faces an uncertain future with the threat of a presidential veto.

In all, the legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., includes more than $41 million for highway construction in West Virginia, including $5 million for the King Coal Highway in Mercer County and $5 million for the Coalfields Expressway in McDowell, Wyoming and Raleigh counties.

The legislation now moves to the full Senate, according to Byrd spokesman John Bray. Bray said President Bush has threatened to veto the legislation, but said Byrd has vowed to fight for the highway funding. The legislation also includes $4.5 million to support West Virginia airports.

According to Byrd, the president has not made a priority of roadways and infrastructure needs in West Virginia. Byrd, in a prepared statement released Monday, said the federal dollars are important because they will contribute to new economic development in West Virginia, while providing safer travel for local residents and visitors.

“As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I remain committed to ensuring that the Mountain State has safe, efficient and modern highways and roads,” Byrd said.

We, too, are committed to seeing the completion of the King Coal Highway, the Coalfields Expressway and the Shawnee Parkway. While $10 million will not complete these roads, the funding will allow for continued progress in Bluefield and Welch.

Every inch closer the King Coal Highway gets to Stoney Ridge, Route 123, the Mercer County Airport, the site of the multi-purpose equestrian park and ultimately McDowell County is another small victory for southern West Virginia. The $5 million award for the Coalfields Expressway also can go a long way toward getting the new four-lane corridor closer to the Wyoming County line, and can assist with the resumption of construction on the roadway in McDowell County, which is now absolutely critical given the ongoing construction of the $232 million federal prison project in Welch.

We still have miles and miles to go before a new and modern four-lane highway infrastructure system can be completed for southern West Virginia. The $10 million federal funding award is another small but important step toward completing this all-important future highway corridor.

We urge the full House and Senate to pass this vital legislation for southern West Virginia. And we expect this bill to be signed by President Bush. A veto of this legislation that is so critical to the future of southern West Virginia would simply be an unacceptable move by the president.