DOH and King Coal Authority Visit Local Communities
June 2000

Michael P. Miano, assistant to the state highway engineer, and Mike Mitchem, King Coal Highway executive director, visited with elected officials of the five counties that the King Coal Highway is designed to run through to provide an update of the latest information regarding the project.

Their tour began in Wayne County June 15 and continued through Mingo and McDowell counties. Miano explained, "The governor asked us to meet with the folks in the five-county area that the King Coal Highway will be built through to keep them updated and aware of the status of the project. Because of safety concerns for those traveling in southern West Virginia, he has made the highway projects in southern West Virginia a top priority."

Miano continued, "This project has many benefits. By building the King Coal Highway, not only will a safer road be built for the residents of southern West Virginia, but also many development opportunities, including economic and land development, will come about as a result of this construction. Increasing access for the residents of these counties could open doors for commercial and industrial interests who would like to expand their businesses in these counties."

Miano and Mitchem completed the tour June 16 in Wyoming and Mercer counties. "The King Coal Highway is a much needed project that will create a safer, more efficient way to travel in southern West Virginia," Mitchem said. "The Division of Highways accident data from 1992 reports that current US 52 has accident rates higher than the West Virginia average and that 86 percent of the route had a higher percentage of accidents involving fatalities and injuries than the state's average. The data also reports that a portion of the highway had twice the number of head-on collisions and 97 percent of the route had higher-than-average incidence of sideswipe accidents."

Mitchem continued, "Accident rates will decline as a result of this new highway and, in some cases, travel times will be reduced in half."

The meetings took place at the County Commission office in each county.