Residents in both counties are anticipating the completion of the project and speculating about what the new roadway will mean to the local communities.

“We’re looking forward to it and are totally behind getting it built,” Parsons Mayor Dorothy Judy said. “We are trying to do everything to be prepared for it when it does come … Truthfully, I think it would be a good thing to go through as the alternative roads are not the best.”

Many residents point to the economic benefits Corridor H may provide.

“It will bring more people and businesses to throughout the area, stimulating the economy by making travel through our area more accessible,” said Sebastian Prehoda, an Elkins resident.

The Inter-Mountain file photo West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice visits the Kerens site of construction on Corridor H in August. Justice said at the time that the project was the most important roadwork in the state.

Others are excited by the increased ease of travel — and tourism — the road is expected to bring.

“The corridor will provide a new and faster way for commuters to make it to the Thomas, Davis area much more quickly. It also opens a faster route to Washington D.C. as well, which will then promote more availability for tourism,” said Jay Bunting, a pastor in Davis. “I think it will do more good than harm.”

“A good deal of the older roads are built for cars that could not go over 55 mph,” Bunting said. “Today we have to be somewhere yesterday, so a more straight road that is smoother just makes sense.”

Some local people are more conflicted in their feelings about the highway project, however.

“As a business owner in the county, I am excited about the economic growth it may bring to the area with new folks visiting us,” said Janice Mann of Tucker County. “However, I don’t want increased crime pollution and energy that comes with certain elements visiting. I hope we don’t get big box stores here, which would kill some of the mom and pop business. People come here because it is truly wild, wonderful West Virginia.”

“I have mixed emotions about this situation,” Randolph County resident Prehoda added. “Drug/gun running will be easier and West Virginia already has a high number of convicted felons in our prisons from other states. Mainly due to the fact that we are in the middle of a big cross road from northern states to southern states, as well as east to west.”

“Tucker County hasn’t got much other than tourism due to the natural beauty, and for that it will be beneficial,” said Rebecca Stemple of Tucker County. “Other than that I hate it. I think once finished it will cause huge problems. Our state road crews can barely keep up with our roads as they are during a (snow) storm and I can only imagine how they and our emergency responders will be overloaded. I believe it will only add to an ongoing drug problem. It makes it that much faster to bigger cities like Baltimore and so forth.”

Pro, con or conflicted, most everyone seems to agree on one thing: once the construction is completed, traveling between Randolph and Tucker counties will be much easier and faster.

“I am on the fence,” said Thomas resident Sarah Raezer. “I can see the potential economic growth that it could bring, but I worry the area can’t sustain it. On the other hand, it would be great to able to travel to Elkins quicker than an hour.”