Corridor G

Corridor G
Major junctions
South end:	US 23/US 460/KY 80/Corr. B near Pikeville, KY
	US 52 in Williamson, WV WV 10 in Chapmanville, WV
North end:	I-64 in Charleston, WV
Highway system
Highways in Kentucky Interstates • US • State • Parkways West Virginia Routes State • County
United States Numbered Highways List • Bannered • Divided • Replaced

Corridor G is a highway in the U.S. states of Kentucky and West Virginia. It is part of the Appalachian Development Highway System, encompassing US 119 for its length. At the southern terminus of Corridor G at Corridor B (US 23/US 460/KY 80) near Pikeville, Kentucky, traffic can continue along Corridor B towards Pikeville and Jenkins, where one can pick up Corridor F (US 119) or proceed south on Corridor B (US 23) into Virginia. At the northern terminus at Interstate 64 in Charleston, West Virginia, one can pick up Interstate 77 and Interstate 79, along with the West Virginia Turnpike.

Attractions

The Hatfield–McCoy Trails are an ATV and mountain biking network of trails throughout southwest West Virginia. Three trail heads branch off from various secondary routes accessible from Corridor G.

History

See also: U.S. Route 119

Kentucky

In 1974^[1], the first segment of Corridor G was completed from KY 292 (2nd St.) at South Williamson south to KY 199 at Huddy. This was a four-lane divided highway that contained mountable medians and jersey barriers, with a mix of state route and driveway access. This is especially evident as US 119 cuts through the center of Belfry and South Williamson. Several years later, a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) segment of four-lane US 119 along Buckley Creek opened from Corridor B/US 23/US 460/KY 80 north of Pikeville to what is now KY 1426 3.5 miles (5.6 km) northeast of Pikeville.

In 1997^[1], a section of US 119 was relocated on new alignment from KY 3154 (Meathouse Fork Rd.) at Canada east to KY 199 at Huddy. Two years later ^[1], a section of US 119 was relocated on new alignment from 2.5 miles (4.0 km) east of Meta to KY 3154 at Canada. This involved extensive highwall construction at Bent Mountain and Canada Knob.

The final segment of Corridor G in Kentucky to be completed was from the KY 1426 intersection north of Pikeville east to Scott Fork 2.5 miles (4.0 km) east of Meta. This segment required the construction of three twin steel-box girder bridges at Johns Creek (KY 194) near Bevins Branch, Winn Branch (Winn Branch Road), and Raccoon Creek (KY 1441).^[2] This also includes a modified diamond interchange at what will be old US 119 1/2-mile east of KY 1426 at Zebulon.

On June 30, 2006, the "Pinson Family Bridge" was dedicated. It crosses Raccoon Creek and KY 1441. This twin steel-box girder bridge is more than 1,200 ft (370 m). long and is the only examples of its kind in Kentucky.^[3] The girders were chosen because of the curvature within the bridge structure; each girder is completely hollow and is features a 10 ft (3.0 m). clearance on the interior.

On December 6, 2006, a segment of Corridor G opened from the KY 1426 intersection north of Pikeville east to the KY 194 (Johns Creek) interchange ^[4]. The last segment to open is from KY 194 north to Scott Fork. That segment was opened in March 2008.

West Virginia

The first segments of Corridor G to open was in 1972.^[5] During that year, a Mingo County segment from Myrtle and Belo (MP 13) to the Logan County line near Holden opened. Segments of this was opened originally as a "super-two" since WV 65 was being destroyed; it was critical that the old roadway be removed before the highway was expanded to four-lanes.

In 1973, a lengthy segment opened to traffic from Godby Heights south of Chapmanville (MP 13) to MP 4 in Boone County.^[5] This was followed a year later by a segment near Madison from MP 9.37 to MP 13 in Boone County. In 1975, the segment from MP 4 to MP 9.37 in Boone County was opened to traffic. At this time, the connection to Interstate 64 in Charleston also opened to traffic from Oakwood Road. This included the flyover ramp from US 119 to the Interstate 64 interchange.

In 1977, a Mingo County segment from Nolan (MP 7.45) at US 52 to Myrtle (MP 13) opened to traffic.^[5]

The next segment to open would come in 1982^[5], when a Boone, Lincoln, and Kanawha County segment opened to traffic from Julian (MP 17) to the WV 601 interchange in South Charleston (MP 11). The segment between the WV 601 interchange to Oakwood Road in Charleston would be completed in 1986^[5]; it formerly utilized Oakhurst and Oakwood Roads.

In 1989^[5], a segment from MP 13 to Julian (MP 17) in Boone County opened. In 1992, a new Tug Fork crossing at Williamson was completed. Formerly, Corridor G traffic from Kentucky had to cross into downtown Williamson and pick up US 119 into West Virginia.

The last segment of Corridor G in West Virginia to be completed was from the Tug Fork crossing at Williamson north to US 52 near Nolan. This nine-mile (14 km) segment was completed in 1997.^[5]

Possible Interstate 66 connection

• Part of the planned Interstate 66, from Pikeville, Kentucky to near Matewan, West Virginia, will generally parallel Corridor G about ten miles (15 km) to the south.^[6] This route is intended for traffic heading easterly from Pikeville towards Beckley, West Virginia,^[7][8] while Corridor G handles northeasterly traffic towards Charleston.

Photo gallery

• 

  The Hatfield–McCoy Trails is an ATV and mountain biking network of trails throughout southwest West Virginia.

• 

  Corridor G north of Logan, West Virginia.

• 

  US 119 and US 52 north of Williamson.

• 

  Corridor G/US 119 under construction when this photo was taken on May 21, 2005 at the Burning Fork interchange northeast of Pikeville.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Bridge stamp listings. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. 2005.
2. ^ Jenior, Pete. "Notes on yesterday's Pikeville Meet and Trip." Newsgroup posting. [1].
3. ^ Elkins, H.B. "New US 119 in Kentucky." Newsgroup posting. [2].
4. ^ "New sections of US 119 open this Wednesday." Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. 8 Dec. 2006 [3].
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Release Date Report. West Virginia Department of Transportation. August 2003.
6. ^ Interstate 66 Kentucky: Appalachian Segment Corridor Vicinity Map
7. ^ Interstate 66 Kentucky (main map)
8. ^ Federal Highway Administration: NHS High Priority Corridors Description (Corridor 3)