Published: July 02, 2009 08:45 pm      

Millions sought for Mercer

BLUEFIELD — U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., is hoping to secure a significant federal funding boost for the King Coal Highway in Mercer County, and the proposed Colonial Intermodal Center planned for downtown Bluefield.

Rahall has requested $60 million in the Fiscal Year 2010 Surface Transportation Project bill for the King Coal Highway in Mercer County to extend the project from its existing terminus at Stoney Ridge to Route 123 and the Mercer County Airport.

Rahall also is seeking $13.5 million for the planning, analysis, environmental review, design, engineering, property acquisition and construction of the proposed Colonial Intermodal Center in Bluefield. The transportation project is proposed near the site of the old Colonial Theater on Princeton Avenue in Bluefield.

Rahall also is seeking $44 million in the new federal highways bill to build an interchange of the King Coal Highway and the Coalfields Expressway in Welch near the Indian Ridge Industrial Park and the new federal prison. He also is requesting $4 million to continue the construction of the Shawnee Parkway, a scenic two-lane corridor extending from Raleigh County into Mercer County and ultimately McDowell County.

“As part of the reauthorization of our nation’s federal highway and transit programs, I am once again fighting to secure critical funding for high-priority projects in southern West Virginia, as I have done so in the past,” Rahall said. “Since 1991, I have secured about $160 million in earmarked federal funds for King Coal Highway projects, $75 million to advance the Coalfields Expressway and nearly $10 million for the Shawnee Parkway. But as we all know, there is much more work to be done. For this reason, I am seeking an additional $60 million in earmarked federal funds for the King Coal Highway in Mercer County, as well as $13.5 million to provide funding for the planning and construction of the new Colonial Intermodal Center in Bluefield. Additionally, I have requested $44 million for the interchange of the Coalfields Expressway with the King Coal Highway, and $4 million for the Shawnee Parkway.”

Rahall said the future four-lane corridors can’t be built upon earmarks alone, adding it is important for the state to prioritize them and contribute both “federal apportioned and state dollars as well.”

During an interview with the Daily Telegraph Wednesday, Gov. Joe Manchin said he has “committed to Congressman Rahall” the state’s willingness to support and prioritize projects slated for federal highway dollars. Manchin said it is important to finish at least part of the King Coal Highway — such as a segment that runs from Bluefield to Wyoming County.

“But we can’t do any of this without federal dollars,” Manchin said.

Bluefield Mayor Linda Whalen welcomed the news Thursday that Rahall was requesting $13.5 million for the proposed Colonial Intermodal Center.

“We are very hopeful about this,” Whalen said. “The architect that is working on this is the same one who worked on the Pullman Square project in Huntington and the BIG (Beckley Intermodal Gateway) project in Beckley. Both of those projects Rahall has secured funding for and they are both designed around transportation.”

Whalen said the project is being called the Colonial Intermodal Center for now because it is planned near the site of the old Colonial Theater.

“That is actually just what was kind of penned in so it would have a name to be submitted,” Whalen said. “It just had to have a name and it is kind of the name the architect gave it. But we are real excited about the prospect because this could be the beginning of economic development in our downtown. We will have community input on what this facility might be, but certainly want it to be something that creates foot traffic to downtown Bluefield.”

Whalen said the city is hopeful that Rahall’s funding request will be approved by the full Congress.

“This idea originated with a group of citizens — Norris Kantor, (Delegate) John Shott and Oretta Hubbard and me coming together and just brainstorming an idea for Princeton Avenue. We had met a couple of times with representatives of Rahall’s office and Rockefeller’s office. From there Rahall’s office has asked us to narrow our scope a bit, and come up with the specific project for Princeton Avenue. This hopefully will be a job creation opportunity. We want to put businesses in and make this a facility that will create traffic in our downtown.”

Rahall also is asking for an additional $78.4 million for the construction of the Coalfields Expressway from Mullens to West Helen in Wyoming and Raleigh counties.

Rahall also is seeking an additional $40 million for a Mingo County segment of the King Coal Highway from Hampden to Sharon Heights, and $120 million to construct the “Taylorsville” section of the King Coal Highway from Mary Taylor Mountain to Buffalo Mountain in Mingo County.

– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com