Anyone (e.g. Brad) have an update on the status of Corridor H? This rainy summer can't have been good for construction. I noticed that the WVDOH website now says the next section opening won't be until fall 2010. Delays are not exactly surprising, but I'm wondering what the skinny is.

Well there really isn't any news on the status of Corridor H other than the recent frontpage article in the Moorefield Examiner regarding the Moorefield to Forman Section. That section is scheduled to be completed by 2010 allowing traffic to bypass Moorefield and drive to Patterson Creek Road before being dumped off there (middle of no where) with traffic having to backtrack to Route 42.

The article in the paper detailed how the eastern most portion of the section hs been graded and in some places, paved. However the bridge crossing the south branch river still isn't finished. The decking of the bridge is being installed and concrete pouring will begin by late summer. The western most portion of this section, earth moving is still continuing and is behind schedule.

Unfortunately I not had a reason to drive that far over to to Patterson Creek Road lately to go up and get pictures. I would like to do that however. The rumor in other western sections towards Davis and onward to Elkins is that there are more environmental battles growing over wetlands and politicians in those areas loosing interest for the highway. Esp that gas prices are rising. But that is a rumor as of now and I don't have any confirmation on it.

Thanks for the update. I've been wondering whether they'd open the section to Patterson Creek Rd. before opening the further section to Scherr/Bismarck. Sounds like the answer is yes. At Patterson Creek Rd, would it be an option to go through Greenland Gap to Scherr rather than backtracking to 42? I've driven that road, and its not too bad in the summer, anyway.

Also, do the rumors about new environmental battles include the section from Patterson Creek Road to Bismarck? I always say that's the only section that skiers coming from the DC area should care about. Once you've climbed the Front to Bismarck, it is already a nearly-straight shot on an empty speedway (93) to Davis.

Brad,
Not highjacking the thread, but how is your battle against the establishment coming?
The Colonel

As I was passing through Hardy county this month, I was advised by the construction crew that there is a delay pushing open to Davis beyond Sept 2009.

Hope this helps.
JR

Colonel - We are still trudging through the battle against the dams. Just last month we had to come face to face with appraisers being forced into our homes with a sheriff's department escort otherwise denial of that could have resulted in arrest. The opposing attorney (son in law of the soil conservation board member) specifically pushed for that in a move to humiliate us.

Legal actions are still ongoing however the board knowing they will be dismembered via new state elections (that we forced) and loose all power on Dec 31 of this year, thus they are forging ahead trying to condemn land by the end of this summer. Thus if they do that, they want to aquire the land, whether they build a dam or not as a way to 'stick it to us' for fighting them.

As far as I know, all work going from Patterson Creek road to Davis and beyond is mired in environmental litigation with not even land acquisition happening as of yet. Unless I'm totally mistaken that there is *NO* construction of the highway happening west of Patterson Creek road at the moment.

Hmmm. I trust your local knowledge, Brad. What's odd is that WVDOH's Corr-H website says there IS work going on west of Patterson Creek road, between Forman and Scherr. Here's the paragraph from their website:

Construction contracts were awarded in January 2008 regarding two grade and drain contracts totaling 4.2 miles from Knobley Road (CR 3) to Patterson Creek Road (CR 5), and a grade and drain contract for 1.5 miles north of Greenland Gap Road (CR 1). Construction of these three contracts began spring 2008. A grade and drain contract, including construction of bridges, for 2.4 miles south of Greenland Gap Road (CR1) was awarded in June 2008 and construction of this project is anticipated to begin in summer 2008. A grade and drain contract along 1.5 miles from west of WV 93 to CR 1 is scheduled for fall 2008.

I had reason to visit Foreman last fall with a friend who owns some land there. He had not been to his property in 15 years or so. I was stunned by the amount road work for Corridor H that had been completed there. The right-of-way and roadbed was cut, and to the east we could see where they had blasted a path right through a nearby ridge. One of the locals called it "Mohawk Mountain". Nothing was paved, but there was plenty of earthmoving equipment. The work did not extend past Foreman. My friend's property is now a two minute drive off the future Foreman exit - probably just over 2 hours from his house in Fairfax once the road is completed.

As to the section towards Davis, I had read over a year ago in the Parsons Advocate that no work was planned in Tucker County until 2011. Given the delays completing the Moorefield to Foreman segment, it could be 2013 at the earliest now - though I have not seen any official announcement.

So... To go to Snowshoe, will it make sense to follow the new 55 all the way to Foreman and then come down all the way till past Petersburg? It may be longer but with all the traffic in Moorefield and Petersburg it may make sense. Any thoughts?

Lou: I don't think you want to go all the way to Foreman. Corridor H angles to the north as it continues west outside of Moorefield, so you would be back tracking to get down 42 to Petersburg. I guess if there is an exit just beyond Moorefield, you still may be able to bypass Moorefield and pick up old 55 just outside of town. I don't know if that would save you any time.

Tom

Tom is correct, going to any places south of Canaan Valley make no sense to ride Rt 55 all the way to Foreman. Any time you think you may make by bypassing Moorefield traffic will be lost in the extra mileage of driving north west and then south west back down 42 to Petersburg. A person's best bet is to exit at East Moorefield (old Rt 55 exit) and go down into downtown Moorefield at the stoplight and then the only slowdowns will be from the stoplight to the Hardee's. Not more than 2 miles worth of 25mph driving.

I think that even in the far future, the Moorefield exit out of 55 may then be the optimum road to Snowshoe. If/when 55 gets complete, the Elkins exit will still be 1.5 hours away. And it would be about another hour on the new 55 from Moorefield to Elkins.?