Coalfields Expressway

[hbelkins]

The Slab Fork-Mullens section of the Coalfields Expressway should have been built last, if at all. It duplicates WV 54, which was constructed circa 1958-1965 and already provided a good high speed route to Mullens.

Yes, but wasn't this section essentially 2 contracts, which allowed for the extraction of the coal in the first contract (at a discount) and the "paving" contract was let years later?

You're thinking of the King Coal Highway/US 52, aren't you? Specifically, the section between WV 44 and Gilbert that has been under construction for nearly 20 years?

[Bitmapped]

The Slab Fork-Mullens section of the Coalfields Expressway should have been built last, if at all. It duplicates WV 54, which was constructed circa 1958-1965 and already provided a good high speed route to Mullens.

Yes, but wasn't this section essentially 2 contracts, which allowed for the extraction of the coal in the first contract (at a discount) and the "paving" contract was let years later?

You're thinking of the King Coal Highway/US 52, aren't you? Specifically, the section between WV 44 and Gilbert that has been under construction for nearly 20 years?

Yes, that part of the King Coal Highway was built using a roadbed left over from mining. The coal company saved money from not having to reconstruct the land to the approximate original contour, and WVDOH saved somewhat from needing to do less earthmoving although that Mingo County section has had significant problems with improper compaction and settling.

WVDOH's construction of the Coalfields Expressway is being handled differently. The design is intended to follow coal seams to the extent that it's financially advantageous to do so, but WVDOH is doing the construction itself rather than as part of a public-private partnership with a coal company. DOH is building on its own timetable.

It's standard practice for WVDOH to separate grade-and-drain contracts from paving when building new alignments.

[WillWeaverRVA]

Much of the existing Coalfields Expressway is now on Google Street View.

[Henry]

Much of the existing Coalfields Expressway is now on Google Street View.

The first thing I noticed was that it has a VA 460 shield. Major blunder on the sign builder's part!

[Mapmikey]

Much of the existing Coalfields Expressway is now on Google Street View.

The first thing I noticed was that it has a VA 460 shield. Major blunder on the sign builder's part!

This is not an error.  VDOT assigned this as VA 460.

[WillWeaverRVA]

Much of the existing Coalfields Expressway is now on Google Street View.

The first thing I noticed was that it has a VA 460 shield. Major blunder on the sign builder's part!

Nope, that's not an error. It's VA 460 until it's finished.