In 1965, Congress authorized the Appalachian Development Highway System to connect Appalachia to the rest of the world with limited access four-lane highways that would improve transportation and create economic opportunities. Some of those corridors are now interstate highways. From Maine to Alabama, these roads have opened commerce and opportunity to the people, businesses, and mountains of Appalachia. 

Corridor H is a key part of that mission and the last to be completed in West Virginia. Beginning at Interstate 79 near Weston, the highway crosses central and eastern West Virginia toward the Virginia state line where it is designed to travel to I-81 near the junction with I-66 close to Front Royal, Virginia. Its completion will strengthen transportation connections and support opportunities for manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and other industries throughout the region.

Progress continues mile by mile. On June 22, 2026, an 11-mile section extending from Kerens toward Parsons opened to traffic, bringing the total length of Corridor H open in West Virginia to approximately 112 miles. Additional sections remain under construction or development as the state works toward completing the corridor.

Completing Corridor H is intended to improve access to markets beyond West Virginia, including the Virginia inland port in Front Royal. The inland terminal provides rail connections to the Port of Virginia’s coastal facilities, giving regional businesses another route to domestic and international customers. Better transportation connections provided by Corridor H can help West Virginia producers compete, attract investment and expand economic opportunities.