Transportation in West Virginia

Transportation in West Virginia

Roads

Interstate highways

U.S. Highways

West Virginia State Highways

Airports

Railroads

The platform area of the Huntington Amtrak station as seen from the tracks.

While West Virginia was once criss-crossed with commercial and passenger railroad networks, the decline of the coal and timber industries, coupled with the rise of the automobile, led to a sharp drop in track mileage in the state. Many of the former railroad grades are used as trails for hiking and biking throughout the states numerous woodlands.

Today, West Virginia is serviced by two Amtrak lines: one that cuts through the southern portion of the state, including stops in Huntington and Charleston, and one that cuts through the state's Eastern Panhandle, including stops in Martinsburg and Harpers Ferry. The Eastern Panhandle is also serviced during the week by MARC's Brunswick commuter rail line, which terminates in Martinsburg. Commercial railroads still operate in the state, mainly hauling coal to inland ports such as Huntington-Tristate (the nation's largest inland port) and Pittsburgh.

Bridges and tunnels

As a mountainous state, bridges and tunnels play an important role in transportation in West Virginia. Notable bridges and tunnels include:

Rapid transit

Rivers

Further information: West Virginia Waterways

Rivers with commercial barge traffic and docks in West Virginia include:[1]

Navigation Lock and Dams in West Virginia[2][3]

Winfield Lock and Dam on the Kanawha River at Winfield, West Virginia

Notes

  1. ↑ West Virginia Department of Transportation, Rivers Section web page, access 9 June 2006
  2. ↑ U.S. Corps of Engineers, Huntington District web site, accessed 9 June 2006
  3. ↑ U.S. Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District web site, accessed 9 June 2006
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