Corridor H: "Highway to Nowhere"
Update: VWC Takes Legal Action Against Corridor HVWC and Stewards of the Potomac Highlands have joined together to file a lawsuit against Corridor H on Earth Day, 2026. Our goal is to stop construction and advocate for "spot" improvements of Rt. 55/48 that will increase safety and meet traffic needs without harming special resources in the George Washington National Forest, such as the Tuscarora Trail, Wood Turtle habitat, and 2.4 miles of intact older growth forest. See highwaytonowhere.org for updates
Why is this important to VWC?The original vision for the Appalachian Highway Development System in 1965 was to connect the Appalachian region with the Federal Highway System to aid economic development in the rural region. Corridor H was planned to connect I-79 in West Virginia to I-81 in Strasburg, Virginia.
Some of the 4-lane highway has been built in WV, but is little-used. Nevertheless, after a 20-year halt due to environmental lawsuits settled in 2000, the WV Department of Highways (WVDOH) has revived its plan to build Corridor H, at an astronomical cost of $542 million, from Wardensville to the top of Great North Mountain, stopping abruptly at the VA state line. |
Great North Mountain is prime habitat for the Wood turtle, which is being considered for listing as a federal endangered species. Photo by Steve Krichbaum, Ph.D. (Wood turtle researcher)
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The Commonwealth of Virginia has gone on record against continuing the highway for 15 miles through Virginia’s forests, farmland, and the Cedar Creek-Belle Grove National Historical Park to connect to I-81. The town of Strasburg and Shenandoah County are also on record against it. So the question now is, does it make sense to extend from Wardensville, WV east to the Virginia state line? The answer is, no.
No wonder it is known as the “Highway to Nowhere.” If built, the 7-mile section in WV would funnel traffic onto Route 55 in Virginia, a two-lane state Scenic Byway, causing significant disruption to small communities and the environment. It would seem that repairing bridges would be a higher budget priority for the West Virginia, which professional highway engineers rank #1 in the U.S. in deficient bridges. But Mountain State politicians are sticking to this 1965 vision: to pave the corridor to the state line and try to force Virginia to build its 15 miles.
The Virginia Wilderness Committee and citizen groups in WV and VA, have long opposed this segment of Corridor H. Though Route 55 could use spot safety improvements, traffic counts of around 2,500 vehicles per day simply don’t justify a massive, 4-lane divided highway.
After issuing a Supplemental Environmental Assessment last year, the WVDOH and Federal Highway Administration announced a Finding of No Significant Impact in early 2026, despite numerous comments by VWC and others challenging the location and design of the project. WVDOH plans to issue a call for bids to build Corridor H in April or May.
Why is VWC concerned? Even though Corridor H would stop at the state line, it still threatens natural and recreational resources in the George Washington National Forest (GWNF). VWC is opposed to this segment of Corridor H for three primary reasons:
No wonder it is known as the “Highway to Nowhere.” If built, the 7-mile section in WV would funnel traffic onto Route 55 in Virginia, a two-lane state Scenic Byway, causing significant disruption to small communities and the environment. It would seem that repairing bridges would be a higher budget priority for the West Virginia, which professional highway engineers rank #1 in the U.S. in deficient bridges. But Mountain State politicians are sticking to this 1965 vision: to pave the corridor to the state line and try to force Virginia to build its 15 miles.
The Virginia Wilderness Committee and citizen groups in WV and VA, have long opposed this segment of Corridor H. Though Route 55 could use spot safety improvements, traffic counts of around 2,500 vehicles per day simply don’t justify a massive, 4-lane divided highway.
After issuing a Supplemental Environmental Assessment last year, the WVDOH and Federal Highway Administration announced a Finding of No Significant Impact in early 2026, despite numerous comments by VWC and others challenging the location and design of the project. WVDOH plans to issue a call for bids to build Corridor H in April or May.
Why is VWC concerned? Even though Corridor H would stop at the state line, it still threatens natural and recreational resources in the George Washington National Forest (GWNF). VWC is opposed to this segment of Corridor H for three primary reasons:
 Wood turtle near a Great North Mountain stream. Photo by Steve Krichbaum.
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View from Big Schloss. Photo © Larry Ragland
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The 250-mile Tuscarora Trail is maintained by Potomac Appalachian Trail Club volunteers. Faster moving traffic would make the trail crossing on Great North Mountain even more hazardous. Photo by Lynn Cameron
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For all these reasons, VWC remains strongly opposed to construction of the Wardensville segment of Corridor H. Spot improvements to Route 55 would meet transportation goals and preserve the special resources in the National Forest. At this point, the only remedy to stop Corridor H from bulldozing its way to the top of Great North Mountain, is a lawsuit, which must be filed before June 4, 2026. |
Letters VWC has written in opposition to Corridor H:
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