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Commissioner Kelly: $31.79M Harrell Drive project seeks $25M federal grant, would add emergency route
Summary
Commissioner Kelly told the Berkeley County Commission that a $31.79 million Harrell Drive project would complete a missing frontage-road link, could reduce interstate ramp conflicts and add an alternate emergency route; the county is seeking about $25 million in federal grant funds and a state match of roughly $6 million, with an award decision expected in late June.
Commissioner Kelly said the county has applied for a $25 million federal grant to fund most of a $31,791,000 Harrell Drive project that would complete a missing frontage-road link and add a continuous north–south access route.
Kelly said the West Virginia Department of Highways would provide the approximate $6 million match and that officials expect a funding decision in late June. "By completing the missing frontage road link between Harrell Drive and West Virginia 45, the project will provide a continuous North South access route that can encourage local drivers to avoid interstate traffic, reduce ramp conflict demand, enhance network redundancy, and offer an alternate route for emergency access and response," Kelly said.
The commissioner described the project as designed to ease traffic on I‑81, reduce ramp conflicts and provide redundancy for emergency response. He also tied the project to broader local development, noting the county is pursuing infrastructure and bonding to align timelines for a proposed sports complex and other growth-area investments. Kelly estimated the combined projects could support roughly 1,300 local jobs when fully developed.
The county presented the grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation via state channels; commissioners were advised to expect notice of award or denial in late June. No formal vote or award was recorded during the meeting.
If awarded, the project would move to design and contract phases overseen by the state highways department; final schedules and construction timelines will depend on that subsequent work and funding approvals.
