West Virginia Route 108 is the designation given to a highway currently open that is intended to be a part of Interstate 73 (I-73) and I-74. The first section opened near Bluefield. The state started this route in 2007, but the West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) did not have the funding to connect it to other roadways.[1] This delayed opening to traffic until 2023.[2]
 West Virginia Route 108 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King Coal Highway | ||||
 WV 108 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by WVDOH | ||||
| Existed | December 13, 2023–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |   US 52 / US 460 near Bluefield | |||
| North end |  WV 123 near Bluefield | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | West Virginia | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
Route description
editWV 108 is a four-lane divided freeway up until Christine West Bridge; lanes on each side are currently being constructed so that the freeway will extend to Airport Road. WV 108 currently goes from US 52 and US 460 to WV 123 (Airport Road).
History
editThe King Coal Highway is thought to be intended to open West Virginia’s southern coalfields to economic development, so in the early 1990s, the West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) decided to start construction on a segment from US 52 and US 460 (John Nash Boulevard) to WV 123 (Airport Road). Construction started sometime in the 1990s, but due to a lack of funding, WVDOT had to wait until funding was available. In 2018, Gov. Jim Justice revitalized the project and brought back funding. On December 13, 2023, the section was complete and was opened to traffic after a ceremony.[3]
On February 20, 2024, people learned about the next segment of WV 108 from WV 123 (Airport Road) to WV 20 near Littlesburg Road.[4]
On November 4, 2024, Gov. Justice broke ground for the extension of WV 108, from Airport Road to Littesburg Road.[5]
Future
editWV 108 is planned to run from WV 65 and Corridor G (US 119) near Belo, to I-77 at its US 52 interchange near Bluefield.[6] The Coalfields Expressway (US 121) and the Shawnee Expressway will connect to the King Coal Highway.
The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) announced an extension towards Littlesburg Road and are planning to start construction in 2025. [7] The extension is 2.4 miles (3.9 km) long, and before WVDOH will have to make a bridge over Littlesburg Road they will stop construction, and continue it after the next extension. The extension will be built four lanes.[8] The extension from Littlesburg Road to Montcalm is in planning stages.[9]
WV 108 is currently a four-lane freeway up until the Christine West Bridge; after the bridge it turns into a two-lane highway. Construction is underway to turn it four lanes to WV 123 (Airport Road).
Exit list
editThe entire route is in Bluefield, Mercer County.
| mi | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Opened in December 2023 | ||||
| — | Opened in December 2023; completed interchange starts construction in 2025 | ||||
| — | Construction to start in mid-to-late 2025 | ||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| |||||
References
edit- ^ "'Bridge to Nowhere': USA Today chronicles long-struggle for completion". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. March 10, 2017. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ "No Longer 'The Bridge to Nowhere': Ribbon Cutting Opens New Section of King Coal Highway". West Virginia Public Broadcasting. December 14, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ "Gov. Justice cuts ribbon to open 'Bridge to Nowhere' and major section of King Coal Highway near Bluefield". Office of the Governor. December 13, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
- ^ "People learn more about the next King Coal Highway segment". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. February 21, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ "https://governor.wv.gov/News/press-releases/2024/Pages/Gov.-Justice-announces-$58-million-contract,-breaks-ground-on-next-section-of-King-Coal-Highway.aspx". Office Of The Governer. November 4, 2024.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); External link in|title= - ^ West Virginia Department of Transportation (n.d.). "Executive Summary.". King Coal Highway. n.p.: West Virginia Department of Transportation.
- ^ "A sign of the future as new roadway corridors come into focus". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. August 3, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ "People learn more about the next King Coal Highway segment". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. February 21, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ "Gov. Justice cuts ribbon to open 'Bridge to Nowhere' and major section of King Coal Highway near Bluefield". Office of the Governor. December 13, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
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