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DAVIS/THOMAS -- Owners of 32 Tucker County businesses have sent a letter asking the U.S. Department of Transportation to intervene in the selection of a route for the Corridor H highway project to take.
The business owners support a northern route for Corridor H from Parsons to Davis, after a petition asking for an alternate route was signed by more than 5,000 people.
The letter was sent to Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of the Department of Transportation, earlier this month.
"Mr. Buttigieg, please help us protect our community from the worst harms of highway construction," the letter states. "As you recently pointed out in your Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program: 'Sometimes roads in the past have done the opposite of what they want to do … Dividing or damaging neighborhoods.' We are deeply troubled by the prospects of the harm that will accrue from the WV Division of Highway's presently recommended southern alignment (ROPA) for the 10-mile stretch of Corridor H between Parsons and Davis. ROPA, as designed, will do precisely what you addressed: sever links between different parts of our community and disrupt our local economy.
"We are a group of local business owners in the small rural towns of Thomas and Davis, West Virginia," the letter continues. "We represent a thriving, sustainable tourism economy based on our assets: scenic beauty, the Blackwater River and Canyon, trails, wildlife, mountains, and charming small towns alive with art and music. A last-century highway design could be a fatal blow to our new economy here on the mountaintop. A well-designed northern alignment will protect our businesses, quality of life, connectedness, and serve the people who live and work in our community."
Later in the letter, the business owners ask, "We are writing to you, Mr. Buttigieg, because you want to build highways right. We all know of communities across the US that "went to sleep" when a highway project went wrong. We can't let a 30-year-old highway design be the fatal blow to our new economy and our way of life."
The letter is signed by owners of the Davis businesses East West Printing, Inc., Sirianni's Restaurant, The Wandering Caravan, Blackwater Bikes, Doc's Guesthouse, Hellbenders Burritos, The Billy Motel and Bar/Ish, Wild Ginger and Spice, River Walk, The Davis Depot, Appalachian Expeditions, Wach's Gallery and Gardens, Scottie Lawn Care, Trailhead Coffee Shop and Sister Witches Crafting Company.
Also signing the letter are owners of the Thomas businesses Studio Gallery, The Adventure Guild Game Shop, Burns Auto Care, Business and Property Owner, Elkins Physical Therapy (EPTS), The Purple Fiddle, Green Rivers, Tip Top Coffee, Ranger Jane's, MUD Ceramics, Bright Bear Yoga, Scarlet Gray, FSRM LLC/Davisyard LLC, Nellie Rose Textiles, Menla Mountain Health and Buxton Landstreet Gallery.
The alternate route is in addition to the DOH's Revised Original Preferred Alternative, which would connect just east of Parsons, crossing over Backbone Mountain, to connect with the existing portion of Corridor H at Davis.
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