Manchin Reintroduces The Fixing Our Country Roads Act To Expand Appalachian Development Highway System

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) reintroduced the Fixing Our Country Roads Act, which allows states to identify new sections for inclusion in the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) and to use previously appropriated ADHS funding on additional projects critical to the regional economy. The legislation will help modernize the highway system, improve regional connections, and strengthen economic growth in West Virginia and across Appalachia.

“West Virginia’s infrastructure plays a critical role in our state’s economy, which is why improving, modernizing, and expanding our roads, bridges and highways continues to be one of my top priorities,” said Senator Manchin. “I’m proud to reintroduce the Fixing Our Country Roads Act to help modernize the ADHS, better connect our communities, create good-paying jobs and boost economic growth throughout West Virginia and all of Appalachia. I successfully fought to include my Finish the ADHS Act in our bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to secure nearly $200 million in funding toward the completion of the highway system, and I will continue to work with federal, state and local officials to expand and strengthen transportation options across the Mountain State.”

Congress created the ADHS in 1965 to provide growth opportunities for Appalachian communities that had been bypassed by the interstate highway system due to high costs of construction through the mountainous terrain. Since its creation, the ADHS has created more than 168,000 jobs, generated more than $19.6 billion per year in added business and saved more than 231 million hours of travel per year. The completion of the remaining portion of ADHS is estimated to create approximately 47,000 more jobs and generate $8.7 billion additional goods per year across the 13 Appalachian states. 

The Fixing Our Country Roads Act provides the U.S. Secretary of Transportation the authority to add new sections to the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS), as identified by the Appalachian states. Additional sections may be added in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and relevant state Departments of Transportation to promote connectivity and spur economic development throughout the region.