For immediate release: Virginia, West Virginia Groups File Injunction to Stop Corridor H

CONTACT: Bonni McKeown, Stewards of the Potomac Highlands. 773-209-4712

barrelhbonni@yahoo.com ; Andrew W. Young, Virginia Wilderness Committee,

(434) 202-4397 AndrewWYoung1993@gmail.com

Citizens groups in West Virginia and Virginia have now filed an injunction to stop any

Corridor H construction on the 6.8 mile section from Wardensville, WV to the Virginia

line. Stewards of the Potomac Highlands and Virginia Wilderness Committee had

challenged WV Division of Highways and Federal Highway Administration in a federal

lawsuit April 30, 2026, saying their environmental studies failed to consider the option of

spot safety improvements to existing two lane Route 48/55. WVDOH let out bids

anyway on June 16 for the section’s first phase of construction, leaving the groups with

no other option. Represented by attorneys Andrea Ferster and Brad Stephens, the two

groups filed the injunction in federal court in the Northern District of West Virginia Friday

Aug. 28.

“Since Virginia declared it won’t build its originally planned section to I-66 and I-81, it

just doesn’t make sense to run an overbuilt West Virginia four-lane to the state line,”

said Bonni McKeown, Stewards president. “Virginia is widening Route 55 and plans to

improve safety in the hills and curves by adding some left turn lanes and passing lanes.

Why can’t West Virginia do the same? It would save taxpayer money, preserve 2.4

miles of intact George Washington National Forest land, keep tourist traffic flowing

through Main Street in Wardensville, and avoid bridge-building damage to trout streams

in the Cacapon River watershed.”

“Rich forest ecosystems, wildlife habitat, native trout streams, and many outdoor

recreational resources of this Allegheny Mountain region, are all threatened by the

Corridor H boondoggle,” said Virginia Wilderness Committee board member Andrew

Young. “We are suing to force public officials to take another look before spending $540

million here.”

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Organized in 1969, the Virginia Wilderness Committee (VWC) works to permanently protect the best of Virginia's wild places for future generations, foster understanding and appreciation of Wilderness, and promote enjoyment and stewardship of our last remaining wildlands. The Virginia Wilderness Committee is a 501(C)3 non-profit citizens' group. https://www.vawilderness.org/

Economically and culturally, our area has a proud tradition of small farm and forest ownership and historic towns. Stewards of the Potomac Highlands, a 501c4 nonprofit citizens group, networks in West Virginia’s northeastern counties to protect this heritage and support an environmentally and socially sustainable, locally controlled economy. https://potomachighlandstewards.org/

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