Great North Mountain. Photo © Larry Ragland

"Highway to Nowhere"

Despite decades of local opposition, the West Virginia Department of Highways and Federal Highway Administration have greenlit a massive, expensive and unnecessary highway from Wardensville, WV to the Virginia state line, where it would end abruptly at the summit of Great North Mountain.

This 7-mile highway is part of the bigger Corridor H project originally envisioned in the 1960s to continue 15 miles east to I-81. But the Commonwealth of Virginia has expressed no interest in extending the highway, meaning the project would dump traffic onto a 2-lane scenic byway in the George Washington National Forest, threatening the very heart of our region.

No wonder people call it the “Highway to Nowhere".

At a staggering cost of $542 million to accommodate 2,500 vehicles a day, building this boondoggle isn’t just illogical and destructive—it’s illegal.

That’s why we’re going to court to stop the “Highway to Nowhere”!

Corridor H

News & Updates

Our Strategy

We don’t need a 4-lane scar across the mountain to improve travel. We are advocating for a win-win solution for both Virginias: targeted “spot” improvements on Route 55/48 focused on passing lanes, turn lanes, and widened shoulders. These much-needed improvementswill improve safety and traffic flow while preserving our heritage and environment.

The West Virginia Department of Highways and Federal Highway Administration have failed to seriously consider these less expensive, less damaging alternatives. In response, the Stewards of the Potomac Highlands and the Virginia Wilderness Committee have filed a lawsuit to stop construction.

Citizens must act now if we want to protect the communities, local economies, watersheds and wildlife habitat from this project. We need your help to fund this legal battle. Please consider a contribution to the Corridor H Legal Fund. Your donation is processed through the Virginia Wilderness Committee, a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) organization.

Photo © Larry Ragland

Map of Project Route

The project would extend Corridor H as a 4- to 5-lane divided highway from its current terminus just west of Wardensville, W.V. to the Virginia state line where the Tuscarora Trail crosses Route 55/48. It would cut through 2.4 miles of undisturbed National Forest land and end abruptly on the crest of Great North Mountain.

What's at Stake

Interior forest in GWNF. Photo © Larry Ragland

George Washington National Forest

Wood turtle. Photo © Steve Krichbaum

The proposed highway would cut a wide swath through 2.4 miles of undisturbed older-growth forest in the beautiful George Washington National Forest, disrupting critical wildlife corridors and accelerating soil erosion in our most sensitive watersheds. It would also cut through the northern end of the proposed Big Schloss National Scenic Area.

Route 55/48 on the eastern slope of Great North Mountain is a designated Virginia Scenic Byway. Making "spot" improvements would accommodate the low traffic volume and ensure a smooth, appropriate transition onto Virginia’s scenic lands.

Transition to Virginia

Special Species

The Wood turtle, which has been proposed for listing as a federally endangered species, lives in the forests and streams along the construction corridor and migrates from one side of the mountain to the other. The “Highway to Nowhere”would result in loss of habitat and more roadkill. The Northern long-eared bat, also found in the project area, is already listed as an endangered species.

Wardensville image from Google Earth

Wardensville Tourism Economy

The 4-lane would bypass the historic town of Wardensville, endangering its small-town character and booming tourism economy. The project would also seize private homes and farms along the way, and threaten Wardensville's water supply.

Tuscarora Trail

The Tuscarora Trail is a 250-mile trail used by hikers, equestrians, bicyclists, and hunters. The four-lane would funnel fast-moving traffic into two lanes just west of the Tuscarora Trail crossing at Rout 55, making the crossing extremely hazardous to trail users.

Mountain Streams

The cold mountain streams flowing off Great North Mountain provide exceptional habitat for native Brook trout. Corridor H would degrade the headwaters of several trout streams including Waites Run and Trout Run, both tributaries of the Cacapon River which flows into the Potomac River. These trout streams draw anglers from across the region.