Published: February 27, 2009 11:07 pm      

Wyoming officials feel Coalfields got shortchanged

PINEVILLE — In Wyoming County, nearly one-fourth of the population lives in poverty and the county has an 8.4 percent unemployment rate.

In McDowell County, the statistics are even starker. Nearly 35 percent of McDowell County residents live in poverty and the county has a 13.1 percent unemployment rate.

Yet, state officials overlooked two of the most depressed counties in the state when doling out federal economic recovery dollars and local leaders are extremely upset.

“I am very disappointed by the lack of sensitivity and respect from the West Virginia Division of Highways for the people of Wyoming and McDowell counties,” Sen. Richard Browning, D-Wyoming, said.

“What area of the state needs economic recovery more than Wyoming and McDowell counties? What area of the state has given more to this state in building the statewide infrastructure that supports the state now? How many coal miners have either died or are suffering today so that every other part of the state can enjoy economic prosperity — except the area where (these miners) lived and worked?

“We all know that new, modern, four-lane highways stimulate economic development. That’s the sole reason we are strapping our grandchildren with this debt, so that we can benefit immediately from an improved economy. And yet, we get none of the money. How can we ever expect to diversify our economy without this road?

“As of now, we are not on the list to receive any economic recovery, stimulus money in Wyoming County and very little in McDowell County.

“Prior to this latest change, we had three Coalfields Expressway contracts funded by this money, and because of a decision made by (state) Secretary of Transportation Paul Mattox, the projects are gone. This is unacceptable to all of us and it is time to stop it. I don’t know why they want to punish us,” said Browning, who is the retired executive director of the Coalfields Expressway Authority and still consults for it.

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The Coalfields Expressway — which will eventually traverse McDowell, Raleigh and Wyoming counties — will be the first four-lane for both McDowell and Wyoming counties. Construction has begun in McDowell County, near the new federal prison being constructed in Indian Ridge Industrial Park, and in Raleigh County, from Lester Square toward Slab Fork.

One of the Coalfields Expressway projects, initially included in the stimulus package, would have taken the new road through the McDowell County industrial park and could have been “shovel-ready” in 90 days, Browning said.

The second project, which can be construction-ready in 180 days, would have brought the Coalfields Expressway across the Wyo-ming/McDowell County line into White Oak along W.Va. 16, Browning explained.

“We have a prison on the Wyoming/McDowell county line that’s going to employ 300 people. That’s 300 jobs in southern West Virginia,” emphasized Mike Goode, chairman of the Wyoming County Economic Development Authority. The prison is expected to open next spring.

“They didn’t even see fit to fund an access road to the prison, a road to help these people get to work every day — that’s economic stimulus right there,” Goode said.

“It’s not a stimulus package for Wyoming County because we’re not getting anything out of this,” Wyoming County Commission president Silas Mullins said. “This money is not stimulating anything in Wyoming County. It’s just like always, if it gets done, we will have to do it ourselves.”

“I feel like southern West Virginia was left out again,” Delegate Linda Phillips, D-Wyoming, added.

Phillips said there is a paving contract in McDowell County, from Iaeger to Beartown, included in the funding package.

“They need that desperately, but I’m not sure how much economic stimulus that’s going to bring,” she said.

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“Nothing has changed since the grassroots effort started to begin this highway,” Browning emphasized. “We have struggled with different gubernatorial administrations down through the years and I am sick of it. It’s the same story always. Every time a list comes out of the Division of Highways, the Coalfields Expressway is not on it, and we have to play political games to get the highway back on the list.

“We were not on the list on Dec. 18 of last year, and after a meeting with Gov. (Joe) Manchin, with intervention and help from Congressman (Nick) Rahall, suddenly we were on the list. Now they have cut us again.

“The reasons given for the lack of funding so far include statements like, ‘We needed a $32 million project and yours did not fit,’ or, ‘Other projects had a higher priority.’ The time has come to stop it.”

Goode said local leaders are hoping to meet with state officials next week.

“We would like to ask our governor to have his transportation folks take one more look at the package from the federal government to see if money for the continued construction of the Coalfields Expressway can be found,” said Wyoming Circuit Clerk David “Bugs” Stover, who previously walked to Charleston to bring media focus to the need for the new four-lane.

“We know how hard our local officials, with the help of state government, have worked to bring improvements to Wyoming County and our surrounding areas. We see each month that water systems are moving forward, that trash is being removed and that systems are being put in place, and have been over the years.”