WEST virginia legislature

2025 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

House Concurrent Resolution 78

(By Delegates Dillon, Adkins, Akers, Amos, Anders, Barnhart, Bridges, Brooks, Browning, Campbell, D. Cannon, J. Cannon, Canterbury, Chiarelli, W. Clark, T. Clark, Clay, Coop-Gonzalez, Criss, Crouse, Dean, DeVault, Dittman, Drennan, Eldridge, Ellington, Fehrenbacher, Ferrell, Flanigan, Foggin, Funkhouser, Garcia, Gearheart, Green, Hall, Hamilton, Hansen, Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker), Heckert, Hite, Holstein, Hornbuckle, Hornby, Horst, Hott, G. Howell, T. Howell, Jeffries, Jennings, Kelly, Kimble, Kump, Kyle, Leavitt, Lewis, Linville, Mallow, Marple, Masters, Maynor, Mazzocchi, McCormick, Miller, Moor Parsons, Petitto, Phillips, Pritt, Pushkin, Riley, Rohrbach, Roop, Shamblin, Sheedy, B. Smith, D. Smith, Statler, Steele, Stephens, Street, Toney, Vance, Ward, White, Williams, Willis, Worrell, Young, and Zatezalo)

[Originating in the Committee on Rules; Reported on March 14, 2025]

Requesting the Division of Highways to make the completion of I-73, the King Coal Highway, in its entirety a high priority project.

Whereas, The I-73 Highway includes the counties of Wayne, Mingo, McDowell, Mercer, and Wyoming; and

Whereas, The economic development prospects of the southern coalfield counties depends upon efficient and convenient transportation across the region; and

Whereas, The recent catastrophic flooding in the area has highlighted the difficulty in traversing this rugged landscape, and complicated efforts both to escape hazardous conditions and to assist people in a timely fashion during periods of critical need; and

Whereas, The construction of such a highway would be immensely helpful in providing efficient ingress and egress to the citizens and emergency workers within these counties both during ordinary and extraordinary circumstances; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways make the completion of I-73 in its entirety a high priority project; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the State of West Virginia should partner with appropriate federal agencies and members of Congress to expedite the funding and the completion of I-73 in its entirety; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways, the Governor of West Virginia, and West Virginia's Congressional delegations in the House of Representatives and the Senate.