(Editor’s Note: Virginia Sen. Todd Pillion issued a news release today regarding the Virginia Coalfields Expressway project and the $7 million in funding for it approved in the statewide budget adopted today in Richmond. On behalf of the Virginia Coalfields Expressway Authority, we thank Sen. Pillion for his work as a budget conferee as well as Del. Will Morefield and Sen. Travis Hackworth, who presented the budget amendments in the House and Senate, respectively. It was their work and the work of other delegates and senators in the southwest delegation, as well as those in other areas of the state who supported it that got the amendment over the finish line. The Coalfields Expressway is an economic development priority for Virginia’s southwest and the funding approved today will continue to advance the project. See below for the full text of Sen. Pillion’s news release.)
RICHMOND, Va. – Senator Todd Pillion announced today that the recently adopted state budget includes $7 million in funding for continued construction of the Coalfields Expressway in Buchanan County, marking another significant investment in one of Southwest Virginia’s most important transportation and economic development projects.
The funding will support ongoing work on the Coalfields Expressway, a long-awaited corridor designed to improve connectivity, enhance public safety, and create new opportunities for economic growth throughout the coalfield region.
As the only Southwest Virginia legislator appointed to serve on the budget conference committee, Senator Pillion worked to ensure the region had a seat at the table during final budget negotiations and that critical Southwest Virginia priorities remained part of the Commonwealth’s spending plan.
“Transportation infrastructure is critical to the future of Southwest Virginia,” said Senator Pillion. “This $7 million investment continues the Commonwealth’s commitment to completing the Coalfields Expressway and ensures that Buchanan County and the surrounding region remain positioned for future growth and development.”
The Coalfields Expressway is expected to improve access to industrial sites, support tourism, strengthen regional transportation networks, and provide safer travel routes for residents and businesses. The project has long been a priority for local leaders and state officials who recognize its importance to the region’s economic future.
“Projects like the Coalfields Expressway are about more than asphalt and concrete,” Pillion said. “They are about creating opportunities for future generations, attracting new investment, supporting existing employers, and connecting our communities to jobs and markets.”
Jonathan Belcher, Executive Director of the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and the Coalfields Expressway Authority, praised the funding and Senator Pillion’s continued leadership on behalf of the region.
“Senator Pillion has never stopped fighting for the Coalfields Expressway,” said Belcher. “He understands what this project means for Buchanan County and the entire region. His work as a budget conferee helped ensure Southwest Virginia had a voice in the room when final budget decisions were being made, and this $7 million investment is another example of his commitment to delivering results for the coalfields. We appreciate his continued leadership and advocacy for this transformational project.”
The funding builds upon previous state investments that have advanced construction of the expressway and reflects ongoing bipartisan support for infrastructure improvements in Southwest Virginia.
“I appreciate my colleagues in the General Assembly and our local and regional partners who continue to advocate for this transformational project,” Pillion added. “Together, we are making meaningful progress toward completing this vital transportation corridor. I am proud to have used my position on the budget conference committee to help deliver this important investment for Buchanan County and the people of Southwest Virginia.”