Seven million in funding to continue construction on a connectorsegment of the Coalfields Expressway in Buchanan County, VA, was approved in the Virginia statebudget finalized Monday in Richmond, VA.
The Coalfields Expressway, designated as U.S. Rt. 121, is designed to improve connectivity, enhancepublic safety and create new opportunities for economic growth throughout the coalfield region. Whencomplete, the new highway will improve access to industrial sites, support tourism, strengthen regionaltransportation networks and provide safer travel routes for residents and businesses.
“We are extremely grateful to Delegate Will Morefield and Senator Travis Hackworth for submitting the$7 million request for FY27 state funding for the Coalfields Expressway project and to Senator ToddPillion for securing that $7 million as a state budget conferee,” said Virginia Coalfields ExpresswayAuthority Executive Director Jonathan Belcher, who also serves as the Virginia Coalfield EconomicDevelopment Authority executive director/general counsel. “Sen. Pillion’s work as a budget confereeand Del. Morefield’s role as a member of the House Appropriations Committee helped ensureSouthwest Virginia had a voice in the room when budget decisions were being made. We alsoappreciate the support of all our state legislators who supported it.”
Belcher noted the project is possible because all three levels of government (county, state and federal)recognized the importance of the four-lane to the region and stepped up to provide the funding.
Buchanan County provided match funding of $1.75 million and is also seeking Virginia Department ofTransportation revenue sharing funds for the project.
“This project has long been a priority for local leaders and state officials who recognize its importance tothe region’s economic future,” Belcher said.
He also expressed his appreciation to Congressman Morgan Griffith, Senator Mark Warner and SenatorTim Kaine for $3 million in federal CDS funds approved in the FY26 federal budget, as well as forallocations of funding for the expressway project in prior years.
The state funding just approved will be used to add two lanes to the existing two lanes on the U.S. 460Connector Phase IIA segment which is a four-mile section near the Breaks Interstate Park in BuchananCounty, making it a four-lane road.
“Once that section is widened to a four-lane, it will be four lanes all the way from Grundy to Pikeville,KY,” Belcher said. “We felt it was important to get it all four-laned now, while the rest of that project isfinishing up with the bridge at Grundy, rather than face the difficult task of raising funding and doing ityears later.”
The funding builds upon previous local, state and federal investments that have advanced constructionof the expressway and reflects ongoing bipartisan support for infrastructure improvements in SouthwestVirginia, Belcher said.
He also noted that concurrently with the work to secure funding for the four-mile section in BuchananCounty, the expressway authority has been working to secure federal funding for improvements toRoute 23 Business and Route 83 in Pound, VA, as well as for Rt. 83 from Pound to Clintwood, VA.
Two U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD grant applications totaling some $30 million advancingpriority safety and connectivity improvements for Rt. 23 and Rt. 83 sections related to the project inWise and Dickenson counties were filed in February 2026.
“We expect to hear a decision on that funding in the coming days, which hopefully will be favorable,”Belcher said. “We continue to look for all opportunities to advance the CFX and Rt. 83 corridors in Wise,Dickenson and Buchanan counties for the future of our region.”
