MONTCALM, W.Va. – The West Virginia Division of Highways is seeking input from the public involving a section of the King Coal Highway in Mercer County.
A public meeting was held Thursday evening to discuss the section of the roadway that is planned to stretch from Littlesburg Road to Montcalm. This portion of the planned highway will stretch nearly four miles according to officials with the WVDOH.
Officials say the design for the stretch of roadway is still being developed. Travis Long, the director of technical support and services for the WVDOH says a number of changes have already been made to the proposed stretch of roadway thanks to a previous public meeting.
That meeting was held in February and discussed the roadway’s section that will run from Airport Road to Littlesburg Road. He says the changes involve displacing less area residents
“Lots of houses up this way where the alignment was going within what was previously the record of decision alignment,” said Long. “We’ve made some significant changes to that and reduced those amounts of houses, moved the road a little bit and worked with some property owners to try and make that impact a little less.”
Work on the segment of King Coal Highway from Airport Road to Littlesburg Road could start as early as next year.
The WVDOH has advertised for bids on the 2.5 mile stretch, which includes extending the four-lane from just north of the Cristine West Bridge to intersect with Littlesburg Road. The deadline for a company to place a bid is Sept. 10.
The highway from Rt. 460 to Airport Road was completed last year, but the portion between the west bridge and Airport Road is still only two lanes. The bid will include upgrading that section to four lanes then extending them to Littlesburg Road.
The King Coal Highway, when completed, will run from Detroit to Myrtle Beach, following the I-73/Rt. 52 corridor, with 95 miles in West Virginia through Mercer, McDowell, Wyoming, Mingo and Wayne counties.
However, the highway is being constructed in small segments with less than 10 miles finished.
Comments on the project can be made online or mailed. For more information, you can head to this website: https://transportation.wv.gov/highways/TechnicalSupport/CommentsOnProjects/Pages/King-Coal-Highway.aspx
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