The West Virginia Division of Highways will take a second look at a northern route for a 10-mile section of Corridor H from Davis to Parsons.
The current WVDOH preferred route splits the towns of Davis and Thomas and crosses the Blackwater Canyon.
Community activists say the northern route avoids those impacts. Additionally, the southern route crosses what’s believed to be the habitat of the endangered Northern Long-Eared Bat.
A Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the project is due later this year. Construction is scheduled to begin next year at a projected cost of $467 million.
Corridor H is one of the biggest highway projects in the state. Most of it is complete.
In addition to the portion from Davis to Parsons, a 7-mile section from Wardensville to the Virginia state line has yet to begin construction.
Transportation Secretary Jimmy Wriston had said previously that the state would not consider routing the highway north of Thomas.