Good news! WV newspapers report the next section of Corridor H from Moorefield to Forman is slated to open the week of Oct 25 with a ribbon cutting scheduled for Oct 27. http://www.newstribune.info/news/x204888...-open-next-week
My question is how to get from Forman to Davis without driving way south first? Mapquest wants you to drive practically to Petersburg after leaving Forman. There's got to be a more direct route from Forman to Davis, doesn't there?

you take a right and then take a left on Greenland gap and that takes you into Scherr

greenland gap road? looks a little sketchy on google maps. is it even paved?

I don't know whether it is paved or not since it was covered in packed snow. It's passable but will not handle much traffic. To call it 2 lane is generous in many places. There is a nice B&B nearby on Patterson Creek Rd. I think, the Thorn Run Inn. I've gotten space there a couple times at the last minute for the big holiday weekends when everything in the valley was full.

as much as i would love to bypass that drive between moorefield and petersburg i am not sure corridorH/greenlandgap/scherr is really a much better option.

I did the ride from where the H spilled out at morefield & you can not be any further out in the country than that!
It is a large track of 'Forgotten Land'..the locals look at you in the same way those south American native tribesfolk looked at the people that discovered them after centuries of isolation!

so you did corridorH to pattersoncreekroad to greenlandgaproad to scherr to davis? is this a good alternative to my usual moorefield to petersburg to senecarocks to harman route?

Chad if you don't want to do Greenland Gap (which is an incredibly beautiful drive) you just take a left instead, then take the right on 42 to Scherr

Chad, I did the ride starting at Moorefield..up 220 to oldfields & then across on co2 to Pat Cr rd 1st before continuing on to greenland gap & scheer. It changed a normal 3.5 ride from Beltsville,md to a 5.5 hr ride.
Untill someone trys it from where the H ends now & posts times, I would do what Myrto says..safer bet.

Its only 5.6 miles per google maps from the terminus to the 93/42 JCT----can't be all that bad. I drove through Greenland Gap 20 years ago and recall it being paved, but remember this will be a different kind of paved, generally 1.5 car widths wide with no lines and poor upkeep.

Not sure about Mr. Fish's wild ride, but I agree with him that we need intel. I usually come in from the north off of 50 and either drop down to Scherr or go up to Mount Storm. This would be a faster way assuming the 5.6 miles is passable (in winter). Are there not some locals on this site that are willing to take a Sunday drive??

thanks all for the suggestions. I like fishnski's suggestion that we post drive times and directions using the new end point of C. H. At the very least the locals should have fun for awhile watching some of us driving up and down trying to find our way to the Valley.

We've been driving this route in the summer for a couple years, minus the new Corr-H section, of course. So it was a lot slower, since the Corr-H section evades a ridge crossing with a lot of switchbacks. We concluded that it adds 10-15 mins or so between Davis and Moorefield, but avoids the potential aggravation (and time sink) of being stuck behind a 35-in-a-55 driver between Petersburg and Moorefield. (Seems to always happen to me.)

The Greenland Gap road is as described...paved, but 1.5 lanes in places and with very old and degraded surface in places. We have not driven this route in winter because we assumed that GG would be a complete time sink, and the switchbacks b/w Patterson Creek Rd. and 220 would be mighty slow going also. Still, hard to see how with the new section, this isn't a viable option. Even if the 5.6 mi to Scherr takes 20 mins, its still reasonable in the overall picture.

Interesting, I wonder if it makes sense from Loudoun/Reston, etc. to head that way, particularity in winter. I calculate 112 miles on Corridor H to the Scherr interchange (when completed), and 104 miles via the normal US 50 route to Scherr. When complete, Corridor H will be the preferred route I think, but until then?

I have always found 50 to be mighty slow going. Worth a try on the new route.

Someone in town told me last night they drove the new section and it was only a couple minutes from the end of the highway to Scherr. I won't believe it until I see it myself.

What is really happening here is that Gov. Manchin(?), a Senate candidate and property owner in Canaan Valley, is looking ahead to the drive from Washington to CV and wants a faster, better route, sooner!
The Colonel

Which means that Manchin's interest may be a lot lower on Wednesday.

I was thinking about posting a thread on which candidate for WV Gov would be better for Skiing in the State allthough now that Manchin...like many other of his liberal colleagues...Has turned conservative I guess it doesn't matter anymore

I drove through Greenland Gap to the last open Corridor H exit off Knobbley Road on my way home to Fairfax from Canaan today. Door to door it was 172 miles - my two other routes are 176 to 182 miles. I made it home right at 3 hours without pushing it too hard (lots of law enforcement on 66 these days). Times on my normal routes run 3:15 to 3:30 hours depending on traffic.

Greenland Gap road is freshly paved but is only 1.5 lanes wide at best in many sections and has no lines painted on it at all. I see it as a great option for daylight drives in dry weather. The gap itself is extraordinarily beautiful and reminds me of some of the steep notches that cut through the mountain ranges in New England. It will probably become my regular summer route to Canaan.

As for winter, I am sure Greenland Gap Road will not be plowed like 50, 55, or 32 - the WVDOT plows will take up the whole road going one way. There are some tight and treacherous curves as well as some short steep climbs as the road winds through the tight canyon. The road runs under towering cliffs and doesn't get too much sun, so I expect it could stay snow covered and icy long after the main roads have melted off. I didn't check my cell phone service, but I can't see it working too well in there. Getting stuck in the Gap would not be fun.

I also noticed lots of work along the Corridor H right of way up to Davis. Someone has already clearcut the timber alongside 93 outside Davis for what I suspect is the future roadbed for Corridor H. The pilings and flyovers for future Corridor H bridge are completed just outside Scherr before the base of the climb up Mt Storm. Checking out Google Earth it looks as if the road will traverse the ridge opposite the Allegeny front then cross 93 and proceed up the front through the current area off 93 recently opened as a quarry. I guess the extractors are getting their extracting done before the road comes through.

Tom

I was just thinking of you & Fam yesterday Tom(coincidence or am I a Psychic??), been awhile since you posted..Hope things are well.
Well..That was the post we were waiting for...Thanks for the front line report TGD!!

I believe I will get off at Moorefield and take 55 thru Seneca Rocks and Harman indefintely and I'll tell you about the accident that made up my mind. Before retiring I used to watch the weather and if snow was due in the valley I'd drive up after work and take a mental health day next day. I used to take Rt 50 about half the time which means 93 from Scherr to Davis. There is about 20 miles of driving on a mostly flat high windswept plain. Many times I have seen it start to snow up there and within 15 minutes it becomes a white out arctic wasteland. The road is wide and generally straight. The shoulders are wide with gravel and there is often a 1-2 inch ledge where the asphalt ends and shoulder begins. Because of the width of road + shoulder you don't know where the line is that separates the two and it is all covered by snow. One spring evening 10 yrs. ago I ran into wet rapidly accumulating snow as I passed thru Romney and sure enough blizzard conditions up on 93. The snow was greasy wet and I kept speed to about 40. At some point my Jeep, in 4WD with good snow tires, began to fishtail and I couldn't bring it under control. Next thing I remember is being upside down against a tree in the woods. The key wouldn't turn the engine off and I was worried about fire so I unbuckled and went out the smashed drivers side window. I was in shirtsleeves but did not feel the 20 deg cold and wind nor feel any pain. I stood in the road to hitch a ride to Davis. It was about 9 PM and 15 minutes passed before the first car showed up. In that time I figured out that I very likely had escaped any internal injuries but my forehead was dripping blood in my eye. I felt clear headed and my normal self. The car was driven by a rather alarmed young woman driving alone. I got her to stop by moving so as to stay in front of her car. She obviously didn't like picking up a stranger when alone on a lonely road. The bloody face must have helped convince her I needed help. I saw a light in Siriannis and asked her to leave me there from where we could call state police rescue. They took me to Oakland for overnight observation. I got out of it with just one broken finger and a scraped up forehead, apparently not from trauma but from when I crawled out the window.

I have replayed the scenario many times and attribute the accident to the following factors in likely order of importance.

1. Too much speed for the conditions. This one is insidious and hard to judge. Be conservative.

2. I remember driving off the edge of the asphalt onto the dirt. In driving back onto the pavement that 1-2" ledge started me skidding. I probably should have opted for a slow stop on the shoulder.

3. The short wheelbase of the Jeep Cherokee made the fishtail oscillations very quick and it threatened to flip. My alarm level went up just as quickly and all fine motor control for steering out of the skid was lost. I slid off the right side of the shoulder and rolled down a small embankment.

4. The locked hubs design of the Jeep's 4WD with a limited slip differential. It felt like all 4 wheels had lost grip with the pavement. Now I have a Subaru Outback with a longer wheelbase and AWD.

Now I never take 93 in bad weather or at night. I expect that the new Corridor H will have guard rails, hopefully with reflective tape. These features would make it safer than 93 but still subject to the weather up there. Nobody can do anything about that. The long curving downhills on Cor H between Wardensville and Moorefield worry me too. Carry too much speed on a slippery road and one could easily roll over a guard rail and in places down hundreds of feet before stopping.

glad your story had a happy ending denis! i had a close call myself, just a few years ago, and on the other route! on us-33 as it descends into harman, wv. it was morning and there was an inch of new snow on the road. it took us forever to crawl up the switchbacks above seneca rocks, but after a good long while at 5mph we made it. controlling speed on the downhill was an even bigger challenge! i knew enough to stay off the brakes, but without warning my toyota van started sliding. before i knew it we were across both lanes and down a steep embankment to the creek bottom.

not sure what i could have done to prevent the slide, as i was driving well below the speed limit. we slid straight off, perpendicular to the lane direction and were lucky not to roll over. there is no guardrail there.

am hoping that an eventual corridor H connection to davis will at least have less curves, and more guardrail, if nothing else.

Actually my concern is Mr. & Mrs. DC, punch CV into their GPS and head blindly into the storm. Things are OK weather wise until they start the climb at Scherr, and then all hell breaks loose.

40 mile an hour gusts, blinding snow, WV's notoriously efficient snow removal, and lastly the fog from the lake.

I have had this happen to me plenty of times on Mt. Storm, and plenty of times on I-68.

I sure hope they mark the road well from Scherr to Davis.

Yikes! Glad your story had a happy ending too.

Scott (SCWVA) told me a good story once about some people from his group following their GPS to CV and ended up traveling on some dirt roads and eventually discovered Bear Rocks. I guess Magellan thinks that straight over the Sods is a good shortcut to the Valley.

Glad to hear you were OK!

Exact same conditions you described on 219 between Wisp and CV, route i would take from State College to the valley. 2/3 times that I have made the trip the weather has been generally fine even through Wisp but once you hit the WV state line all of a sudden you are on elevated terrain with farmland on both sides. Once we drove through there and it was barely even snowing but it was cold and there was fresh snow on the ground and the result was blinding snow and almost no sense of where the road/lanes were....

I am hoping that the end result of Corridor H is that the route to CV is MUCH safer and as others have said, lack of switchbacks and guardrails should help a ton. But as Keith said, worst is going to be the DC GPS driver who drives 60 through snow and feel safe simply because their SUV has 4 wheel drive and they are on a highway. Also, not as big of a problem in WV, but in PA the WORST is truckers going 65 through driving snow with zero regard for the rest of human kind.

Hehe. I /like/ driving behind most truckers in snow, especially someplace like I-81 or the turnpike.

I would far rather have them on the highway driving 65 than the normal run of lane-weaving, brake-jabbing, hazard-flashing urbanites doing 35.

here you go! Some corridor H eye-candy after the 5 minute mark you get the newly opened section.

Pretty cool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6dbmN2YjOk

Great video.

I've been in quasi-whiteouts on 93 myself so I understand what can happen there. Then again, I've been in an equally wicked whiteout on I-68 east of Morgantown and into Garrett County (and I was damn glad to have a couple tractor-trailers to follow). It really is just inherent in the topography. And I have seen some nasty accidents on the steep grade on 32 between CV and Harman. Not to mention the section between Harman and Seneca Rocks referred to above.

Bottom line for me is that Appalachian roads can get very treacherous in snowstorms anywhere there is windswept terrain or steep grades. The best way to avoid problems is to get there before the storm, and leave afterwards. When that's not possible, all else being equal, I would much rather be on a four lane highway with guardrails, reasonable grades, wide shoulders, etc., plus the hope that, being a primary travel route, a four laner might actually get plowed/treated more frequently.

Just a side note regarding CH and speed, on Aug 30, 2010 a 17 year old student from EHHS in Baker was killed when his pickup truck going over 100mph in the eastbound lanes came off the McCauley bridge, hit the last part of the S turn and lost control. He skidded approximately 100 yards before the truck went from the median, veered right, flipped over the guardrail and rolled over 250 down ejecting the driver who was killed instantly.

Bear in mind speed on CH with such amazingly steep and high embankments has proved fatal already. So mixed with winter weather, everyone BE CAREFUL!

While CH does have the safety advantages of being straighter with less steep grades and no switchbacks, it avoids these things by staying high on the ridgetops. This presents a different and inherent problem. By staying high it is colder and more exposed to wind.

As to snow removal, in my experience WV does a far better job than VA and a better job than MD. This is despite the fact that it snows more and harder and the wind blows harder in WV. The one place that is consistently bad, again my experience, is Preston County. Both Garrett and Tucker are better, often significantly. Still, of all the ways I know to connect N VA with the valley, I-68 followed by 219 seems safest. The road is straighter and the grades less steep. It is slower, but it's my bailout route in tough conditions.

They need to get the "to Davis" section finished for it to make a difference for me since it's still quicker to go 33 to Harmon for me. I'd love to be able to avoid Allegheny Mountain in bad snow. Can't say how many times I hit the summit in white out conditions. The Virginia side of Shenandoah Mountain is trecherous in any snow because VDOT love to use only salt in the beginning of snows. Those banked turns and switchbacks cause the car to slide sideways, especially going downhill.

I noticed that they are building a bridge over Rt 93 between Mt. Storm & Davis, will there be an exit off Corridor H at Rt 93 or would you exit off of Corridor H further up?

I can't wait until its finished, the drive from Davis to C-Ville is currently only 2.5 hrs, with the completion of Corridor H, my guess the drive will only be 2hrs!

I personally don't have an idea on this as the last time I was up there was in June. However when talking with locals, and noticing the clear cutting that followed Rt 93, Corridor H is in the beginning stages as well as that is also the path of one of the high voltage power lines being built. I was told that for a good portion, the highway and the voltage lines will follow each other before splitting before Davis.

When I was last up there, the only earth moving going on was from Scherr to Bismark going up the mountain. Where did you see the overpass possibly going in at?

Just a worthwhile note, one local did tell me that there will be an intersection at Bismark right at the top of the mountain right before you get to the Liberty gas station, not an overpass there.

The bridge was being built between Davis & the dam.

BTW, how does Corr H get by the dam? Seems hard to imagine widening the existing 93 roadbed there, right? Another bridge?

I believe the Corridor H roadway will be 'downstream' from the dam and the current 93 highway. I suspect there will be a bridge built that crosses that valley. The last time I was up there a few months ago, I didn't see any construction yet in that area so I'm not really sure.

Yes, Corridor H (RT 48) will cross Stony Creek downstream of the Mt. Storm Lake dam. This will be a major bridge crossing, as that is a significant gorge.
I am told the work is awarded and started, but haven't really seen that.
Of course, everyone has seen the flyover crossing of 93 in Greenland Gap that is well along.

Any chance the corridor will be finished to Bismarck by the time the ski season rolls around this year? I know it is already open to near the base of Mount Storm and they have been working on the stretch up to Bismarck. It will be great when it is open that far to allow us to avoid the stretch of road below Mount Storm Lake. I've only been on 93 from Mount Storm Lake down the pass once but it seemed like it would be treacherous with any snow or ice on it. This winter if you were coming from the D.C. area to the valley and roads had any snow or ice would you take Corridor H to its end and head up Mt Storm on the old highway 93 (or down on the way back) or would you go the southern route through Seneca Rocks even though its longer?

The steel for the bridge at Bismarck was set in July. They are still moving dirt along the stretch from Scherr to Bismarck. Luckily for us, they have been working both day and night on the road to Bismarck, as well as the bridge below the dam. The bridge over the gorge is going to take sometime to build. Even if Corridor H is open to Bismark, I think I would still prefer Seneca Rocks (Rt 55/33/32) route during a full on storm as Rt. 93 is very exposed from Bismark to Davis. Blowing snow and coal trucks don't make for a pleasant drive.

The leaves started changing a couple of weeks ago, won't be long now.

I've only been on 93 between Bismarck it was the morning after a major snow storm, with flakes still coming down. It seemed fairly flat and straight with packed snow and ice on the roads, but nothing blowing and as soon as we got past Storm Lake the roads cleared up for the pass, don't know if it just didn't snow as much once we got of the plateau or if they did a much better job clearing the roads on the pass. I found this link http://www.wvcorridorh.com/route/map5.html looks like Corridor H up the mountain to Bismarck may not be open for two more winters, which is disappointing, but it should be open to 93 this fall. It will be awesome once Corridor H is open all the way to Davis, should shave 45 minutes (or more) off the drive from the DC area.

There can be some serious weather on that high plateau that 93 takes heading to Davis. Plenty of blowing and drifting and fog/poor visibility. It can be real treacherous even during heavy rain (hopefully but not always during the ski off-season.)

This is why I never take 93 if there is any chance of snow.

http://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0103C&L=SKIVT-L&T=0&O=A&P=99140

If Corridor H follows the same route, it is going to be subject to the same weather so I will continue going through Seneca Rocks in snow, or, if it's really intense, I-68 to 219 S to Thomas then 32 to the valley.

Wow, Denis, crazy experience on 93. Sounds worse than, but similar to something I survived this past winter. I totalled my 4x4 pickup truck near the Blackwater Falls lodge this past winter after somewhere between 10 - 20 inches of snow in 24 hours that packed down over ice on the road. I was going pretty slow maybe 15 mph on our way to Timberline with my wife excited to catch a second straight day of skiing fresh snow, the wheels lost traction with the road on a down hill curve sliding slowly off the road giving us plenty of time to think, "This is not happening" then the truck slid off the road and hit a tree 8 feet below the road bed totally wrecking the drivers side of the vehicle missing my head by 6 inches. The slide was our first sign of losing traction at all, up until then in 4WD we didn't so much as spin our wheels. We crawled out the passenger door and up the embankment with no bodily harm. We were fortunate to have randomly run into a friend from our church in Arlington who was from Davis at Timberline the day before and we were able to catch a ride back to the DC area. Our friend even happened to be friends with the park ranger who responded to our wreck. In the 20/20 vision of hind sight I should have been going 5 mph instead of 10 - 15 mph.
I am debating whether I need to pick up some cables or chains for my Pathfinder 4x4 this winter or find some winter tires to have mounted, maybe even getting a spare set of wheels for them. I know the snow storm we drove through the next weekend(in my wife's Kia Rio, some people just don't learn) near Wintergreen sure made us nervous and the first snow storm I drive through this winter will definitely have me a little nervous and driving about 5 - 10 mph slower than in previous years.

The Rt 93 exit off of Corridor H (US 48)is open now.

I just took the new exit at Rt. 48/93 home from the Valley and I believe the new exit actually adds time to the drive to & from the Valley.

Really? Compared to what?

Agreed. I timed it the last time up. Going to the end and doubling back added 10 minutes to my drive time compared to getting off at Knobley and taking Greenland Gap Rd over to Scherr (not going SW to 42)

some people would complain if you hung them with a new rope

Well, count me in that group. (Never heard that expression.)

I'm surprised the new exit is not a wash compared to Greenland Gap, if not just a bit faster. (Very surprised that it would be longer time-wise.) Doing a quick eyeball on Google Maps, looks like the new exit is 4 extra miles. 4 miles at 55-70 mph is less than 4 minutes. (Are you getting caught behind trucks on 93?) I could easily save that time on GG road. How fast do you guys normally drive down GG road and the roads over that temp bridge?

No way the new road adds time. This weekend on my way home, I timed 8 minutes via the new section from the intersection of 93/42 in Scherr to the intersection of Corridor H and Knobley Rd - driving around the speed limit. It may not save much if any time, but I'm glad to be able to stay off Greenland Gap Rd in the winter.

But still you need to drive on 93 from Mt Storm to Davis and I don't think it's a safe route in winter?

No road in WV is completely safe in winter. In all but the worst of conditions, I'll take the 93 route since it's a lot faster.

I don't like 93 in a blowing snow storm - otherwise it is fine. On a clear day, the windmills on Mt Storm are visible from Corridor H just before you pass Moorefield. If you can't see them, then it's likely blowing snow pretty hard up there. On those trips, I like to exit in Moorefield and drive into the Valley via the southern route through Seneca Rocks and Harman.

Bring on Almost Heaven!

So what is the best way to get to Snowshoe starting from the I-66/I-495 interchange?

This was suggested in another DCSki thread:

I-66 West, I-81 South, 55 West into Corridor H and get off at Patterson creek rd (south), merge into 42 South, then 28 south and then 66 west and turn right to Snowshoe!

Asking for a friend who lives in DC. Coming up from Raleigh, I take WV93 off I-64 and then go through Marlington. Have been on 66 east of Snowshoe with snow on the road and do not care to repeat the experience.

HE LIVES!!!

Great idea, thanks!

"So what is the best way to get to Snowshoe starting from the I-66/I-495 interchange?"
ummm - you CAN'T get there from here (especially in bad weather)! LOL LOL
Been doing it for 7 years - only way: 66/a little 81/55W Moorefield, Petersburg/Seneca Rocks, Green Bank and up. Corridor-H beyond Moorefield just takes you north out of your way. Seen the road up from Marlinton (if coming from the South) closed on occasion...but then, also found abandoned cars on the back entrance to Snowshoe from Green Bank too!!! Did the trip once (once) at night 6 years ago and once (once) during a snowfall...neither twice. Between falling rocks, black ice and deer, still wrecked the Jeep 3 times!!!

Some people like that option heading to SS because you bypass Moorefield, most of Petersburg, and some of the heavier traffic (often truck) between Moorefield and Petersburg. YMMV.

I specifically go that way just TO go to Moorefield (Food Lion) and Petersburg (Sheetz) for gas/bathroom. Never hit traffic...though did have a wreck on black ice outside Petersburg years back.
Associated Press - Wed, Nov 28, 2012
Gasoline prices rise in West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Gasoline prices have risen in West Virginia over the past week. AAA East Central says the average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline in the state is about $3.60. That's more than six cents higher than a week ago and about 24 cents higher than a year ago. Prices range from about $3.70 in Martinsburg to $3.50 in Huntington. Nationally, gas prices average $3.42 this week.
Guess Obama gave WV coal mining the shaft, now the citizens! LOL Best gas prices were the 1st two stations on 55 off 81 (actually still in VA). Now with the Canyonero, may have to be more cognoscente of gas!
Think gas prices will have any affect on the ski industry? Probably not - if you can afford skiing or golf...gas ain't nuthin'.

I personally prefer to bypass Moorefield and Petersburg and use Patterson Creek Rd. I think it is faster and is no more dangerous than the route through Moorefield/Petersurg in winter (the road are in low elevation). You can easier save 10 minutes. You can still stop at other gas stations en route to Snowshoe. There is no big grocery store like Food Lion on that route but I prefer to shop and prepare for food before leaving DC anyway.

Best prices for gasoline are generally near major north-south corridors. There's very good reason for that.

Unfortunately, the only refinery WVa has got ships its stuff out by barge.

I've been favoring the 55/Patterson Creek Road to 28 for a while now. It's 15 miles longer but saves 10 minutes because the avoidance of Moorefield/Petersburg. In addition, both towns seem to target out-of-state plates for traffic tickets to fill their coffers, to the point of a police cruiser following you until you invariably go 2 or three miles over the speed limit on a downhill crossing the river and then nab you. I've always have my radar detector on and never have contributed to their tax structure, but most of my guests have had that happen to them. So I avoid them period.

Any updates?

 

From the website:

Construction is underway for the entire length of the Bismarck to Foreman section. In October 2010 the WVDOH opened Corridor H from Knobley Road (Grant CR 3) to Moorefield. Paving is underway from Grant CR 1 to Knobley Road to Bismarck (at the top of the hill), with the first 5.3 miles from Knobley Road to WV 93 opened to traffic in late 2012 and the remaining 4.05 miles anticipated to be completed in the fall of 2013.

The WVDOH anticipates that the Bismarck to Forman section of Corridor H may be completed in fall 2013.

 

Was not open last weekend but hopefully any day now.

The last I heard was that the section from Scherr to Davis wouldn't be 100% open until late 2014 or early 2015.  They might be able to shift the current traffic from Rt 93 to the half of the road that is about to be completed between the Bismark bridge and Davis.  Which means Rt 93 will still be one lane in each direction.  Currently, RT 93 is a mess and the police are heavily enforcing the 45mph speed limit.

 

 

SCWVA

but on the webiste they treat the 42 section (bottom to top), as a different project/phase than the route 93 section (power plant).  My fear was that they had lumped these together and delayed completion of both.  Like many I would be happy just to have it dump me at the Bizmark gas station, but avoid the windy trip up the front.  So is ScottyB right that this section will open prior to 2014/2015.  Thanks for the intel on 93 being a mess up top.

I was up there just about 4-5 weeks ago and I can say the bottom to top of Scherr Mountain sections are nearly complete.  Not only is this from the visuals I got, but from a friend who I play basketball with who is a former crane operator on that very section of Corridor H.  Currently that 4-5 mile section from Rt 93 at the bottom to the Scherr BP gas station is 95% complete.  I believe final paving is done and only thing left is guardrails, signage, etc. 

The top of Scherr Mountain is a mess right now at the BP station.  There is a detour as crews are placing 2 corridor h bridges across a modified Rt 93/42 section.  As I traveled the brief detour around these bridges, I looked to the right to the section heading towards the bottom of the mountain, and it indeed does look done.  However from this intersection towards Davis is barely 50% done with basic roadbed formations being worked on.

However, here's the kicker.  It appears there is NO intersection entrance/exit ramps at the bridges crossing 93/42 near the BP station.  This leads me to believe that the state may not open the bottom to top of Scherr Mountain section until the final section to Davis is open.  I could be grossly wrong on this and entrance/exit ramps could be in the next phase, but it just didn't appear that way.  Since I haven't been down by the power plant in 2 years, I don't know if they are adding any on off exits down there either.

According to WV Dept of Highways Corridor H web site the Bismark to Rt 93 connector at Mt Storm portion is supposed to open in fall of 2014, with full completion to Davis by summer 2015. 

No mention of allowing traffic to BP at Scherr this year. BOO!!

The Colonel

Isn't the bottom, Scherr?  And the top/gas station, Bismark?

http://www.wvcorridorh.com/route/lrgmap.html

Quote "The WVDOH anticipates that the Bismarck to Forman section of Corridor H may be completed in fall 2013."

Where did you find this quote?  Good news if true!

oK, I found the quote but I cannot tell if this page of website has been updated since full site update indicating a construction delay caused by a reduction in federal funding?!

Could one of the DCSkiers that live out near Canaan contact the WVDOH or officials in Tucker/Grant counties for the latest info, or check with TL or Canaan Valley resort for what they are hearing?  The latter have a real financial interest!

The Colonel

Had to go up to the valley 2 weeks ago,   Looked like H was marked with had signs in place at Scherr and up the mtn.

Talked with one of the Flaggers at construction and she said the next section from Scherr to Bismark will open by Nov 15 or 27th if the weather is an issue.

Thanks for info, bit by bit we inch closer to Canaan Valley.  I do caution all to read Denis's posts about driving portion from Bismark to Davis in a snowstorm!  Driver BEWARE.

The Colonel

I drove it yesterday, 11/13/13.  Much work underway but it is not open any further than last spring.  You must get off on 93 in the valley, about 3 miles from the intersection of 93/42 at the bottom of the mountain.

I heard will open 11/22. Heading up 11/25 for the holiday week. Planning on hiking and skiing a few runs. Also hears about a potential storm next week.

3skiwv wrote:

I heard will open 11/22. Heading up 11/25 for the holiday week. Planning on hiking and skiing a few runs. Also hears about a potential storm next week.

....also, this is Todd E from old DCSki (Skitline was my screen name but i couldnt log in with it) so created a new one :)

Got it from a reliable source that the section up the mountain WILL be opened on Friday.  Good news for most of us. I may give it a try on Friday morning.

SOOO awesome...will be on it Monday night.

Scherr to Bismark is opening at 12:30pm on 11/22/13.  here is a news article

http://wvmetronews.com/2013/11/21/new-miles-of-corridor-h-to-open/

Baywalker..brent Walker spokesman for WV dept of trans......hmmmmmmm....

No...does not compute in this case.  Brad W is an IT professional.

The Colonel

fishnski wrote:

Baywalker..brent Walker spokesman for WV dept of trans......hmmmmmmm....

*cough*secretlife*cough

FKNA!

So, given that's it's been a little while since I drove this, how far do we need corridor H to go for optimal routing to both Snowshoe and Timberline? 

Unfortunately, IIRC, the VA portion will be done dead last, right?  Does this new opening basically connect to 93 where it joins with 42?

In regards to the Wardensville to VA link of Corridor H, that I suspect would be done dead last, if never done at all.  Primarily because of the amount of private homes that it would end up destroying in the process.  Also Virginia still is dead set against the highway being built from the top of North Mountain to 81 as they don't have the funds.  I assume as long as VA refuses to build it, WV is prohibited via a court agreement to build any closer than the west side of Wardensville.  Being that states rights trump the federal government Constitutionally speaking, as long as VA refuses to build it, no amount of federal dollars can get it built.

Anyway... the biggest hurdle for that section of highway is the amount of homes it would take and families it would relocate.  Just on the WV side the highways proposed route would curve south east of Wardensville crossing Trout Run Cut-off and Trout Run Roads.  These two roads have tons of homes which are well kept properties. 

The highway would then curve eastward as it's due south of Wardensville cutting into Anderson's Ridge, small hill/mini mountain behind Trout Run road (it's the ridge with the cell tower on it in Wardensville).  That ridge has a housing development on it of which many customers (and friends) live on.  I'd estimate a few dozen houses are there in the direct path on that ridge alone.  After that the highway would continue due east taking out a trailer park on the other side of Anderson's ridge and demolishing several houses and a part of the Wardensville Town park.  The last proposed right of way had it condeming part of the town park.

After that point it's been up in the air as to where it would intersect current Rt 55.  But the various plans I've seen show Corridor H curving east north east possibly interseting Rt 55 before the VA border at the top of the mountain.  If this is the case, then I can count on Google maps another dozen homes that would be taken.  The direction it would take to I-81 is completely up in the air.

I worked with a lady several years ago who lives outside Strasburg and had heard about plans for Corridor H to head south east after crossing north mountain and heading towards Tom's Brook or somewhere south of Tom's Brook.  That would mean it would have to cross two mountain ranges, avoid or tear through Devils Backbone State Forest and then the countless homes and properties it would take as it gets near any intersection on 81.  I just don't see VA running a brand new 4 lane interstate grade highway through that area when it's not serving the state any purpose except causing decades worth of lawsuits against the state eminent domain. 

I would have to say in my honest opinion, connecting Wardensville to VA with Corridor H is essentially dead.  Of course the longer it waits, the more houses are built in the affected stretch and meaning more lawsuits against both states.

Virginia will never build its section (along existing SR 55) during my lifetime. Nor should it. I'm a tax payer in the state of VA and there are way too many highway/transit projects that are a much more important use of our limited transportation dollars. Plus, the constituency for getting the project done is nil compared to political interests in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Charlottesville, among others. And state leadership has not indicated it is a priority. (DC Skiers are maybe 0.00001 percent of the Virginia population.)

15-20 minutes along SR-55 in VA plus 15 or so down North mountain through Wardensville is no biggie for the trip to Davis given that the rest of the trip is limited access Corridor H.

Can we get a bypass around Wardensville?....pretty please Mr. taxpayer sir?

The heck with Va, finish the last section to Davis/Thomas and haggle over where to get it the rest of the way to 79 later. 

A bypass for Wardensville would be nice but prolly not gonna happen either. 

 

BTW the new section TITS!!! 

JohnL wrote:

Virginia will never build its section (along existing SR 55) during my lifetime. Nor should it. I'm a tax payer in the state of VA and there are way too many highway/transit projects that are a much more important use of our limited transportation dollars. Plus, the constituency for getting the project done is nil compared to political interests in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Charlottesville, among others. And state leadership has not indicated it is a priority. (DC Skiers are maybe 0.00001 percent of the Virginia population.)

15-20 minutes along SR-55 in VA plus 15 or so down North mountain through Wardensville is no biggie for the trip to Davis given that the rest of the trip is limited access Corridor H.

 Teh Rich gets Richer ;)

scottyb wrote:

The heck with Va, finish the last section to Davis/Thomas and haggle over where to get it the rest of the way to 79 later. 

A bypass for Wardensville would be nice but prolly not gonna happen either. 

 

BTW the new section TITS!!! 

New section 1 or 2 lanes in each direction?

jimmy wrote:

JohnL wrote:

Virginia will never build its section (along existing SR 55) during my lifetime. Nor should it. I'm a tax payer in the state of VA and there are way too many highway/transit projects that are a much more important use of our limited transportation dollars. Plus, the constituency for getting the project done is nil compared to political interests in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Charlottesville, among others. And state leadership has not indicated it is a priority. (DC Skiers are maybe 0.00001 percent of the Virginia population.)

15-20 minutes along SR-55 in VA plus 15 or so down North mountain through Wardensville is no biggie for the trip to Davis given that the rest of the trip is limited access Corridor H.

 Teh Rich gets Richer ;)

Teh Rich in Northern Virginia ain't so rich cuz our tax dollars support the rest of the state. We get a fraction back compared to what we put in. Plenty of freeloaders around, especially in the Reva area. ;)

JohnL wrote:

New section 1 or 2 lanes in each direction?

 

4 lane, 2 in each direction.  The road crews had already been out with salt, not enough to plow at the time.  Pretty nice, so much better than the old road behind a log truck.  About 15 minutes or more travel time saved not to mention its way safer.