ELKINS – The unveiling of the next section of Corridor H, running from Kerens to Parsons, that was originally scheduled to be open to traffic by Memorial Day has now been delayed until the end of June, officials said.

Corridor H Highway Authority chairman Robbie Morris told The Inter-Mountain that the opening was pushed back after weather conditions slowed some of the work progress this winter.

“The latest that I have heard from the DOH (Department of Highways) is that it sounds like it’s going to be the end of June when that portion of Corridor H opens up,” Morris said. “Some of the winter stuff delayed them a little bit with getting some of the final punch list items completed.

Morris, who is also a state senator, said that, based on information he has received, the opening date for the new section will now be toward the end of next month.

“DOH is actively working to set up a ribbon-cutting type event and I’m just waiting for official word on that,” Morris said. “It’s my understanding that there will be a ceremony like they have had when they opened up new sections of Corridor H in the past. But the exact date, time and location hasn’t been set yet.”

The new section of highway, which is roughly 13 miles long, will directly connect Elkins and Parsons.

“When it opens, that will be a significant day for Corridor H,” Morris said. “It will be the tipping point for most GPS systems to start navigating people through Corridor H rather than I-68.

“It will be a great day and it will really help the workforce that travels between Randolph County and Tucker County. And it will be just an overall safer trip, so it’s very exciting and it’s closer to the completion of Corridor H as a whole. We’ve been waiting well over 50 years for this and it’s time we get it finished.”

Morris said there will be countless benefits from having the new section of Corridor H open.

“I think it’s going to be better for people who are just going to eat at restaurants, do some shopping, or anything like that,” Morris said. “Especially in the winter time, it will be safer to be on a four-lane highway rather than the two lanes of Route 219. So it will definitely make things a lot quicker, a lot safer, and a lot easier for people no matter what direction they’re going.”