US 121 and US 460/Corridor Q

[Mapmikey]

The next segment of US 121-460 east to Grundy will be built as 4 lanes thanks to $ appropriated in the recent funding bill that averted a government shutdown.

[mikereaser]

US 460 isn't really useful as a standalone corridor between Pikeville and Bluefield.

Weeeeeeeell, it was for my family 1970-73 when we lived in Pikeville and visited my grandparents in Tazewell and/or Princeton. 

[1995hoo]

Thanks for the photos. I have my doubts as to whether I'll ever manage to visit that part of Virginia, so I appreciate being able to see pictures here.

[Rothman]

Virginia, on the other hand, has to date built all of its corridors as four-lanes, along with a number of other routes such as US 58, Alternate US 58, and US 19 in southwestern Virginia. So it seems odd that they would leave the final segment of US 460 as a two-lane route.

In 2019, US 460 only had 2600 AADT at the Kentucky state line. It doesn't get to 5000 AADT until you get past SR 609 closer to Grundy. Traffic on VA 80 by the Kentucky line is only about 720. There's a pretty strong case to be made this road is never going to get enough traffic to justify four lanes, corridor or not.

The other thing is looking at the utility and cost of building the corridor. US 19 follows a valley, was comparably cheap to build, and diverts traffic off the overcrowded I-81 corridor. US 58/Alt 58 aren't really useful for through traffic, but they at least serve to knit the far western end of the commonwealth in to the rest of the state. Again, mostly in a valley so cheap to build.

US 460 isn't really useful as a standalone corridor between Pikeville and Bluefield. It follows an indirect routing where through traffic has other existing alternatives that are comparable in time/distance. There's nothing significant past Grundy (sorry, Breaks Park) and construction costs are high due to the terrain. The rationale for building US 19, US 58, and Alt 58 as four lanes don't really apply here.

Pfft.  Before I-64 was completed, locals in eastern KY swore by taking US 460 from Pikeville to points east.

[hbelkins]

US 460 isn't really useful as a standalone corridor between Pikeville and Bluefield.

Weeeeeeeell, it was for my family 1970-73 when we lived in Pikeville and visited my grandparents in Tazewell and/or Princeton. 

Virginia, on the other hand, has to date built all of its corridors as four-lanes, along with a number of other routes such as US 58, Alternate US 58, and US 19 in southwestern Virginia. So it seems odd that they would leave the final segment of US 460 as a two-lane route.

In 2019, US 460 only had 2600 AADT at the Kentucky state line. It doesn't get to 5000 AADT until you get past SR 609 closer to Grundy. Traffic on VA 80 by the Kentucky line is only about 720. There's a pretty strong case to be made this road is never going to get enough traffic to justify four lanes, corridor or not.

The other thing is looking at the utility and cost of building the corridor. US 19 follows a valley, was comparably cheap to build, and diverts traffic off the overcrowded I-81 corridor. US 58/Alt 58 aren't really useful for through traffic, but they at least serve to knit the far western end of the commonwealth in to the rest of the state. Again, mostly in a valley so cheap to build.

US 460 isn't really useful as a standalone corridor between Pikeville and Bluefield. It follows an indirect routing where through traffic has other existing alternatives that are comparable in time/distance. There's nothing significant past Grundy (sorry, Breaks Park) and construction costs are high due to the terrain. The rationale for building US 19, US 58, and Alt 58 as four lanes don't really apply here.

Pfft.  Before I-64 was completed, locals in eastern KY swore by taking US 460 from Pikeville to points east.

Nearly 40 years ago, my brother was in a wedding in one of the Bluefields. He asked me for routing options. Having never been between Pikeville and Bluefield, I automatically said "US 52." It wasn't until many years later that I experienced for myself that I'd given bad advice, and US 460 would have been a better recommendation instead of US 119 and US 52. I don't remember if my brother drove US 52 on the return trip, or if he opted for another route, but I heard all about what a torturous route US 52 was between Williamson and Bluefield.

[mikereaser]

Nearly 40 years ago, my brother was in a wedding in one of the Bluefields. He asked me for routing options. Having never been between Pikeville and Bluefield, I automatically said "US 52." It wasn't until many years later that I experienced for myself that I'd given bad advice, and US 460 would have been a better recommendation instead of US 119 and US 52. I don't remember if my brother drove US 52 on the return trip, or if he opted for another route, but I heard all about what a torturous route US 52 was between Williamson and Bluefield.

Sacre merde! Just Welch to Bluefield is purgatorial enough!!!

[seicer]

Yesterday, I visited Southern Gap to take aerial photographs of the ghost town on the mountain's summit. Here are some observations and thoughts:

- Unidentified Building on Sykes Boulevard: There's a building whose name has been removed. An abandoned car is in the parking lot, and another car, possibly for security, is stationed at the entrance.

- Infrastructure Condition: The infrastructure around Southern Gap shows signs of deterioration. VA 718 is particularly affected, with significant settling causing a rough drive. However, roads and sidewalks near residential areas and the town center are in better condition. I am concerned about the long-term stability of these structures due to inadequate land reclamation. The area is built on spoil, or crushed rock from surface mining, without sufficient geological assessments of the underlying material.

- Part of VA 718 is intended for four lanes but currently has only two.

- New VA 460/US 121 Route: Turning onto the new VA 460 (Corridor Q)/US 121 (Coalfields Expressway) from VA 718, the road extends east and transitions into a gravel path where construction is ongoing to connect with US 460 in Grundy.

- US 121 will split from VA 460 here. From that point west, US 121 is unsigned. I am surprised VDOT went ahead and signed US 121 as it only exists for a mile or so between that point and VA 718; within a few years, it will only extend to Grundy. No other segments of US 121 will be built in Virginia in the foreseeable future.

- The stretch of VA 460 between VA 718 at Southern Gap and VA 609 (Bull Creek Road) at Bull Gap is a four-lane undivided highway, which continues towards Grundy. The road has limited space for expansion, which might affect future road development. North of VA 609, it becomes a conventional two-lane highway within a four-lane right-of-way, expanding to a divided four-lane road at VA 80 (Breaks Park Road).

- Kentucky's portion of Corridor Q exhibits superior design, with limited access and divided lanes using a depressed median or concrete barrier. Near Elkhorn City at Cedarville, the new US 460 bridge over Russell Fork is nearing completion.

- Rejoining US 460 (temporarily signed as KY 3174) from KY 195, the drive to US 23 was swift, featuring few intersections and some interchanges with notably sharp ramps. The design could have benefited from wider loops for easier navigation.

- The new four-lane segments of US 460 should have a speed limit of 65 MPH, in line with similar roads in western Kentucky, to bring parity to eastern Kentucky's road speeds.

[hbelkins]

On my recent trip back to the future routing of US 460, I recorded the location of the "East VA 460/East US 121" sign.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vGf4H3cb9QddXkZT8

[seicer]

On November 7, 2023, officials marked the completion of a key segment of US Route 460 (Corridor Q). This segment extends from Breaks Park Road to VA Route 744 at Southern Gap, Virginia, spanning 8.7 miles, with a 2.5-mile overlap with the US 121 (Coalfields Expressway). This section signifies the initial completion of the Coalfields Expressway in Virginia. Read on: http://bridgestunnels.com/2024/01/02/virginia-opens-new-corridor-q-and-coalfields-expressway-segment/

1 US Route 460 (Corridor Q) at VA Route 609 (Bull Creek Road) in Bull Gap, Virginia


2 US Route 460 (Corridor Q) and US Route 121 (Coalfields Expressway) west of VA Route 744 (County IDA Road) at Southern Gap, Virginia


3 US Route 460 (Corridor Q) and US Route 121 (Coalfields Expressway) west of VA Route 744 (County IDA Road) at Southern Gap, Virginia


4 US Route 460 (Corridor Q) and US Route 121 (Coalfields Expressway) at VA Route 744 (County IDA Road) in Southern Gap, Virginia


5 US Route 460 (Corridor Q) and US Route 121 (Coalfields Expressway) east of VA Route 744 (County IDA Road) in Southern Gap, Virginia


6 VA Route 744 (County IDA Road) in Southern Gap, Virginia

[Joseph R P]

Google satellite imagery around Corridor Q has just been updated, for anyone interested: https://www.google.com/maps/@37.2783469,-82.2509061,9404m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu

[Beltway]

I am getting conflicting reports online about this question --

What parts of the new US-460 Corridor Q are open to traffic between Pikeville KY and Grundy VA

One mentions a recent opening to VA-744 at Southern Gap and I don't see any VA-744 on the VDOT Buchanan County map.

I know some people here have driven this area recently.

[WillWeaverRVA]

I am getting conflicting reports online about this question --

What parts of the new US-460 Corridor Q are open to traffic between Pikeville KY and Grundy VA

One mentions a recent opening to VA-744 at Southern Gap and I don't see any VA-744 on the VDOT Buchanan County map.

I know some people here have driven this area recently.

The VDOT map PDFs are not great and have some mistakes (such as the infamous "21th Street" in Richmond that has been there for as long as I can remember).

SR 744 does show up on the VDOT ArcGIS map (which was recently updated earlier this month), with a small segment of VA 460 extending beyond that (but I don't think that part is open yet).

[74/171FAN]

I am getting conflicting reports online about this question --

What parts of the new US-460 Corridor Q are open to traffic between Pikeville KY and Grundy VA

One mentions a recent opening to VA-744 at Southern Gap and I don't see any VA-744 on the VDOT Buchanan County map.

I know some people here have driven this area recently.

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?msg=2895774  (Only a few posts up since I moved the Virginia thread posts here)

[sprjus4]

It appears it ends here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gD23Rbajr5eToZtT8?g_st=ic

[Beltway]

I am getting conflicting reports online about this question --
What parts of the new US-460 Corridor Q are open to traffic between Pikeville KY and Grundy VA
One mentions a recent opening to VA-744 at Southern Gap and I don't see any VA-744 on the VDOT Buchanan County map.
I know some people here have driven this area recently.

The VDOT map PDFs are not great and have some mistakes (such as the infamous "21th Street" in Richmond that has been there for as long as I can remember).
SR 744 does show up on the VDOT ArcGIS map (which was recently updated earlier this month), with a small segment of VA 460 extending beyond that (but I don't think that part is open yet).

I see there is more current info in this thread.

I just found this which is the latest update this month --
https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/media/vdotvirginiagov/projects/bristol/CFX-Project-Status-April-2025_acc03282025_PM.pdf

Looks like VA-744 is a new designation, and on the Southern Connector Road that just opened between US-121/US-460 and VA-83.

US-460 is open between KY and VA-744. So there is a completed new highway between KY and VA-83.

Poplar Creek Phase A will open in 2025 and Poplar Creek Phase B will open in 2027, thus completing the US-460 relocation in VA.

I see also that 460 Connector Phase IIA has a planned project for paving a 2-lane parallel roadway for 3.98 miles.

So I  know where VA stands -- how about KY? That is where I got conflicting sources -- one said the whole US-460 relocation was complete, and one said that the middle section is not open but is nearing completion.

[Beltway]

This post got moved over here from the Virginia thread by the moderator.

I didn't know about this thread.

I am getting conflicting reports online about this question --

What parts of the new US-460 Corridor Q are open to traffic between Pikeville KY and Grundy VA

One mentions a recent opening to VA-744 at Southern Gap and I don't see any VA-744 on the VDOT Buchanan County map.

I know some people here have driven this area recently.

[WillWeaverRVA]

This post got moved over here from the Virginia thread by the moderator.

I didn't know about this thread.

I am getting conflicting reports online about this question --

What parts of the new US-460 Corridor Q are open to traffic between Pikeville KY and Grundy VA

One mentions a recent opening to VA-744 at Southern Gap and I don't see any VA-744 on the VDOT Buchanan County map.

I know some people here have driven this area recently.

Yeah, it got split off because it was worthy of its own thread.

Google Earth aerial imagery shows that the two segments of the Coalfields Expressway in KY (KY 3174) are definitely still separate with a little bit of construction. The middle segment was supposed to open this year but I'm not entirely sure how likely that is.

[Beltway]

I see that a new funding source may be in the works for US-121.

ADHS funding which I believe is still at 80% federal aid or more, and separate from standard FHWA allocations to the states.

The West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOH) and the Coalfields Expressway Authority also continue to advocate for its inclusion in the ADHS.

Given the low volumes and the high cost, ADHS may be the only way to get it all built.

All the other letters have been used, so this could be Corridor Y or Corridor Z.

Virginia CFX Authority to Request ARC to Add CFX to Appalachian Development Highway System
by e-Region | Jun 28, 2024

WISE, VA – JUNE 28, 2024 – The Virginia Coalfields Expressway (CFX) Authority agreed Thursday to submit a request to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) asking that the Coalfields Expressway (Route 121) in Virginia be added to the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS). Currently, only the sections of U.S. 121 that overlay U.S. 460 are within the ADHS system as part of Corridor Q. The remaining sections of the roadway – the majority of it – are not currently within the ARC designation.

The  action to approve the request came during a meeting of the authority board at The Inn at Wise in Wise, VA. If the ARC approves the request, the authority would become eligible to apply for ARC funding for the remaining section of the roadway.

The board also authorized Virginia CFX Authority Executive Director Jonathan Belcher to begin exploring with state legislators the possibility of creating a "U.S. Route 121 Corridor Development Fund," similar to the existing U.S. Route 58 Corridor Development Fund created by the legislature years ago.

https://www.vceda.us/virginia-cfx-authority-to-request-arc-to-add-cfx-to-appalachian-development-highway-system/

[Great Lakes Roads]

I see that a new funding source may be in the works for US-121.

ADHS funding which I believe is still at 80% federal aid or more, and separate from standard FHWA allocations to the states.

The West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOH) and the Coalfields Expressway Authority also continue to advocate for its inclusion in the ADHS.

Given the low volumes and the high cost, ADHS may be the only way to get it all built.

All the other letters have been used, so this could be Corridor Y or Corridor Z.

Virginia CFX Authority to Request ARC to Add CFX to Appalachian Development Highway System
by e-Region | Jun 28, 2024

WISE, VA – JUNE 28, 2024 – The Virginia Coalfields Expressway (CFX) Authority agreed Thursday to submit a request to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) asking that the Coalfields Expressway (Route 121) in Virginia be added to the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS). Currently, only the sections of U.S. 121 that overlay U.S. 460 are within the ADHS system as part of Corridor Q. The remaining sections of the roadway – the majority of it – are not currently within the ARC designation.

The  action to approve the request came during a meeting of the authority board at The Inn at Wise in Wise, VA. If the ARC approves the request, the authority would become eligible to apply for ARC funding for the remaining section of the roadway.

The board also authorized Virginia CFX Authority Executive Director Jonathan Belcher to begin exploring with state legislators the possibility of creating a "U.S. Route 121 Corridor Development Fund," similar to the existing U.S. Route 58 Corridor Development Fund created by the legislature years ago.

https://www.vceda.us/virginia-cfx-authority-to-request-arc-to-add-cfx-to-appalachian-development-highway-system/

It's gotta be Corridor Y.

[Beltway]

Google Earth aerial imagery shows that the two segments of the Coalfields Expressway in KY (KY 3174) are definitely still separate with a little bit of construction. The middle segment was supposed to open this year but I'm not entirely sure how likely that is.

I saw that too, but how often is Google Maps Satellite View updated?

[Beltway]

It's gotta be Corridor Y.

The Coalfields Expressway (CFX) is planned to be approximately 108 miles long, stretching from I-77 at Beckley, West Virginia, to US-23 Corridor B at Pound, Virginia. The West Virginia section is about 63 miles, while the Virginia section covers around 49 miles.

Would be a good addition! I didn't know that the ARC was willing to add any new corridors.

[WillWeaverRVA]

Google Earth aerial imagery shows that the two segments of the Coalfields Expressway in KY (KY 3174) are definitely still separate with a little bit of construction. The middle segment was supposed to open this year but I'm not entirely sure how likely that is.

I saw that too, but how often is Google Maps Satellite View updated?

Good question, supposedly the imagery is from 2025 but I'm honestly not sure.

[Beltway]

Google Earth aerial imagery shows that the two segments of the Coalfields Expressway in KY (KY 3174) are definitely still separate with a little bit of construction. The middle segment was supposed to open this year but I'm not entirely sure how likely that is.

I saw that too, but how often is Google Maps Satellite View updated?

Good question, supposedly the imagery is from 2025 but I'm honestly not sure.

I am hoping someone here has driven it in the last year and can report from on the ground.

[Chris]

but how often is Google Maps Satellite View updated?

Google Earth (the desktop application) shows the dates of each satellite image. You can also access historic and sometimes more recent satellite views than what is the default in Google Maps.

Google Earth has started to acquire imagery from Airbus, which is much more recent in many cases. I've already seen tons of satellite images from March or April 2025, in some cases they were only 10 days old.

However in the case of the Coalfields Expressway near Elkhorn City, the current satellite image is from 10/19/2015, so it's almost 10 years old.

[74/171FAN]

Well the two sections of KY 3174 (as shown in Travel Mapping (west and east)) are what is currently open (and clinched by myself).  I am unsure what else needs to be stated here.