By Stewards of the Potomac Highlands and Virginia Wilderness Committee 

Citizens groups in West Virginia and Virginia have now filed an injunction to stop any Corridor H construction on the 6.8 mile section from Wardensville, WV to the Virginia line. Stewards of the Potomac Highlands and Virginia Wilderness Committee had challenged WV Division of Highways and Federal Highway Administration in a federal lawsuit Apr. 30, 2026, saying their environmental studies failed to consider the option of spot safety improvements to existing two lane Route 48/55. WVDOH let out bids anyway on June 16, for the section’s first phase of construction, leaving the groups with no other option. Represented by attorneys Andrea Ferster and Brad Stephens, the two groups filed the injunction in federal court in the Northern District of West Virginia Friday Aug. 28. 

“Since Virginia declared it won’t build its originally planned section to I-66 and I-81, it just doesn’t make sense to run an overbuilt West Virginia four-lane to the state line,” said Bonni McKeown, Stewards president. “Virginia is widening Route 55 and plans to improve safety in the hills and curves by adding some left turn lanes and passing lanes. 

Why can’t West Virginia do the same? It would save taxpayer money, preserve 2.4 miles of intact George Washington National Forest land, keep tourist traffic flowing through Main Street in Wardensville, and avoid bridge-building damage to trout streams in the Cacapon River watershed.” 

“Rich forest ecosystems, wildlife habitat, native trout streams, and many outdoor recreational resources of this Allegheny Mountain region, are all threatened by the Corridor H boondoggle,” said Virginia Wilderness Committee board member Andrew Young. “We are suing to force public officials to take another look before spending $540 million here.”

For press inquiries, reach out to Bonni McKeown, Stewards of the Potomac Highlands, 773-209-4712 barrelhbonni@yahoo.com; Andrew W. Young, Virginia Wilderness Committee, (434) 202-4397 AndrewWYoung1993@gmail.com. 

Editor’s note: The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy is not involved in this lawsuit. The case is an independent effort brought by new plaintiffs. WVHC remains bound by its 2000 settlement agreement.