I saw a post by Jerry Gray over on the Clintwood Connection tonight that brings up some interesting points about the Coalfields Expressway. I have to admit, that after having been an adamant supporter of it myself for many years, I'm not so sure the logical justification for it exists now. As Jerry points out, one of the touted goals of the CFX is to attract industrial jobs to our county, yet sharp declines in domestic industrial jobs over the past 10 years adds serious doubt to the "build it and they will come" model. We've already seen that model fail with companies that don't even require access to a more advanced transportation infrastructure. Anyone up for a serious cost-benefit analysis?


Here is what Jerry wrote:

I disagree with the fundamental premise of the CFX, that a better road will attract industry. There are millions of acres of flat land next to major 4-lane highways all over this country which can accomodate industry. They are not able to compete with Mexico or China for inducstry. We can't possibly compete with them, and they are already in place.

The CFX as proposed is designed to allow coal companies to slice off the tops of mountain ridges and leave them flat (saving millions of dollars in reclamation expense) for a highway not justified by any trafic study of projected need.

To accomodate the mining, the CFX plan calls for five one-thousand foot bridges spanning the spaces between mountain ridges in Dickenson County alone.

All bets are off the table now, because the CFX is being studied by the coal companies to see how they can maximize their profits in a deal with the state.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/4481/message/1182559123/VDOT+and+Boucher-Incorrect+criticism

Could it be we are set to be invaded by imminent domain. Forced to sell at a price set as fair market value. When typically a mining operation will have to pay accordingly to what they think they will make by mining your property. Most of the land in our county is already owned by coal companies, is that not enough? I am not against mining but I am against any of our citizens being treated unfairly. I think the answer is zoning, I have said it again and again. Then all business will have to answer to our local BOS. They will not necessarily just have to answer to the Fed or the State regulations. We being a small voting block do not stand to benefit when the larger government makes the laws and regulations protecting our citizens rights. They need local scrutiny. If we were zoned years ago all the millions or billions profit made here by mining and gas extraction could have caused some road improvement and possibly more infrastructure. If you look at any successful city, county or town they have zoning laws regulating business and private construction. It is a double edged sword but I am convinced the benefit outweighs the cost to the citizens. We are attempting to promote tourism, how will it look with a strip mine or gas wells along the path to the Breaks Park or the lake or the Museum? A real tourist attraction!!