THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF UNITED STATES SENATOR ROBERT BYRD.

WASHINGTON, D.C…. U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., announced today that he is working to deliver major investments for vital transportation projects throughout the Mountain State. In legislation that has cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee, Byrd added $41.5 million for highway and road projects that will create jobs, relieve congestion, and make travel safer in West Virginia. Byrd also added $4.5 million to support West Virginia airports.

“Unfortunately, the President has not made a priority of roadways and infrastructure needs here at home,” Byrd said. “I have worked to secure funding for these important road projects because I know that they will contribute to new economic development in our state, while providing safer travel for local residents and visitors. As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I remain committed to ensuring that the Mountain State has safe, efficient, and modern highways and roads.”

Byrd added $10 million specifically for Corridor H to the Fiscal Year 2009 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations bill. Byrd has secured $341.2 million to date for Corridor H in addition to the funds that West Virginia receives under the ADHS formula program, which was also made possible by Senator Byrd as part of the 2005 Transportation Authorization bill (SAFETEA-LU).

“With work now complete on all of our other corridors, we can focus our efforts on Corridor H,” Byrd said. “There is much work to be done. Corridor H is a critically important undertaking for West Virginia, and I am committed to seeing it through.”

In this latest bill, Byrd has added funds for the following highway projects throughout West Virginia:

· $10 million for Corridor H (Eastern West Virginia)

· $7 million for West Virginia Route 9 (Eastern Panhandle)

· $5 million for WV Route 10 (Logan County)

· $5 million for slide repair work along U.S. 60 (Eastern Kanawha County)

· $5 million for the Coalfields Expressway (Raleigh, Wyoming, and McDowell Counties)

· $5 million for King Coal Highway (Mercer County)

· $2 million for the Kanawha Trestle Rail-Trail Project (Charleston)

· $1.5 million for improvements to Potomac Street (Harpers Ferry)

· $1 million for Roadway Development and Supporting Infrastructure at the Elkins Railyard Project (Elkins)

Byrd also added $4.5 million to the bill to support activities at West Virginia Airports.