Arizona: Construction of
Holbrook Interchange
(Woodruff Butte)

Arizona: Demolition of North Rim Inn Cabins (Grand Canyon National Park)

California: Closure and Disposal of Marine Corps Air Station (Tustin)

California: Construction of U.S. Courthouse (San Diego)

Hawaii: Ewa Villages Redevelopment (Honolulu)

Massachusetts: AHEPA-Daughters of Penelope Elderly Housing Project (Peabody)

Pennsylvania: Closure and Disposal of Philadelphia Naval Hospital

Virginia: Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge Replacement (Alexandria, VA, and P.G. County, MD)

West Virginia: Corridor H Highway Construction

In November 1998, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ordered that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) be enjoined from constructing portions of the Corridor H highway pending appeal by a citizens' group, Corridor H Alternatives. It is unknown when a final decision on the appeal is likely.

Meanwhile, consultants for the West Virginia Department of Highways presented the results of re-engineering based on a mitigation plan for sections of the highway adjacent to the Corrick's Ford Battlefield. The use of raised roadway structures, narrow medians and shoulders, and retaining walls has virtually eliminated major cuts across the face of Fork Mountain. Evaluation of avoidance alternatives near the Moorefield Battlefield has not yet been initiated. Council staff will participate in a field view tentatively scheduled for late January.

Background

Appalachian Corridor H is a proposed new highway which would run for approximately 110 miles on new alignment from Elkins, West Virginia, to the Virginia State Line near Strasburg, Virginia. The project was first proposed by Congress in 1965 as one of 23 transportation corridors to be developed to provide access and stimulate growth within the Appalachian region. Preliminary cultural resource investigations within the 2000-foot wide corridor identified more than 1000 structures or districts over 50 years old, of which only 12 were expected to be affected.

With assurances from FHWA and the West Virginia Department of Highways that enough flexibility existed within the selected corridor to allow for relocation of project alignment in most cases where adverse effects to historic resources might be expected, the Council executed a Programmatic Agreement (PA) for the project in November, 1995. In accordance with review provisions of the PA, the Council has been consulting with FHWA regarding impacts to two Civil War Battlefields, the Corrick's Ford Battlefield and the Moorefield Battlefield.

Staff contact: MaryAnn Naber