Highway Administration clears Wardensville to VA state line section of Corridor H to move forward
By Matthew Young, RealWV
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated to clarify the location of the proposed interstate exchange.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in association with the West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Highways (WVDOH), has issued a Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions pertaining to the Wardensville-to-Virginia state line component of the Corridor H Highway Project. The FHWA has also set a deadline for any potential legal challenges.
As stated in the Federal Register, which is available for viewing through the Government Publishing Office, “A claim seeking judicial review of the Federal Agency actions on the listed highway project will be barred unless the claim is filed on or before June 4, 2026.”
With planning for the Corridor H Project dating as far back as the mid-1960’s, the idea of a four-lane highway connecting Interstate 79 near Weston with Interstate 81 in neighboring Virginia has been a sporadic source of debate amongst area-residents, planners, and politicians. Recent years have seen that debate become more targeted as construction of various portions of the corridor escalated as part of former West Virginia Governor Jim Justice’s “Roads to Prosperity” initiative.
In Nov., 2024, now-Senator Justice announced the start of the $77 million Roaring Run Bridge-portion of the project, near Parsons. Posting his excitement to social media, Justice said, “Completing Corridor H is the most important project in West Virginia history.”
“When it’s finished it’s going to open the world to our diamond in the rough,” Justice added. “We are getting closer to finishing by the day!”
Supporters of the project, such as the WVDOH, cite positive economic impact due to increased tourism opportunities, and more direct travel routes as potential benefits. However, project detractors, including the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley, have questioned “the massive cost of the road to taxpayers and the damage it has caused compared to its modest economic impact.”
Adding to the contention – particularly on the Virginia side of the state line – is the proposal to create an interstate exchange between I-79 and I-81 -in the area between 48/55 and I-81 – in the space currently occupied by Cedar Creek and the Belle Grove National Historical Park, in the George Washington National Forest. The potential effect on the national forest, as well as other similar environmental concerns raised on both sides of the state line ultimately triggered a full multi-agency review of the project’s SEA (Supplement Environmental Assessment), as well as all other related environmental studies. On Nov. 3, 2025, the FHWA in partnership with the WVDOH released a “Finding of No Significant Impact” – also referred to as a “FONSI” – thereby concluding their review.
As stated in the FONSI: “After careful review of the environmental analysis in the SEA and public input the FHWA has made the determination the the Project will not result in any new significant impacts, thus a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required, and all studies required for this project under NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) have been completed.”
With the release of, and based upon the information contained within the FONSI, the Notice of Final Federal Agency Action issued by the FHWA concludes: “Notice is hereby given that WVDOH and other federal agencies have taken final agency actions…by issuing licenses, permits, or approvals for the proposed improvement highway project.”
Barring any request for judicial review made on or before June 4, 2026, it is anticipated that the development of the approximately 6.8 mile Wardensville-to-Viirginia state line component of the project will now move forward.
RealWV will provide updates regarding the Corridor H project as additional information is made available.
