Virginia CFX Project Gets $3 Million in Federal Funding
LEBANON, VA – (February 4, 2026) -- The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 signed into law Tuesday by President Donald Trump includes funding in the amount of $3 million for the Virginia Coalfields Expressway in Southwest Virginia.
The Coalfields Expressway (CFX), designated as U.S. Route 121 and a Congressional High Priority Corridor, is a limited-access highway to provide a modern, safe, and efficient transportation artery through the coalfield region of far Southwest Virginia and southern West Virginia.
The Virginia CFX Authority was established by the General Assembly in 2017 to improve the transportation into, from, within, and through Southwest Virginia; to assist in regional economic development; and to generally enhance highway safety in the affected localities of Southwest Virginia.
Inclusion of funding in the act signed into law Tuesday was made possible through the actions of Congressman Morgan Griffith in the U.S. House; and Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner in the U.S. Senate to request Congressional Directed Spending for the project. Specifically, the funds will go toward the Corridor Q – U.S. 460 Connector Phase II paving project.
“We are very thankful and appreciative to Congressman Griffith, Senator Kaine and Senator Warner, as well as President Trump, for the $3 million included for the Coalfields Expressway connector in the recent federal budget bill,” said Jonathan Belcher, executive director of the Virginia Coalfields Expressway Authority. “This will definitely help with the four-laning project from the Breaks Interstate Park to the intersection with Route 609. It also now provides a federal match for the state budget amendment request pending before the Virginia General Assembly.”
In the General Assembly session which is ongoing, House and Senate budget amendments introduced by Del. Will Morefield and Sen. Travis Hackworth, are advancing. The amendments under consideration provide an additional $7.875 million for the CFX project in Fiscal Year 2028. Specifically, those funds are for the Route 121 Rockhouse Road Connector Project and the Route 460 Phase IIA Finish Grade Project, both of which are associated with the overall Virginia Coalfields Expressway project.
In Buchanan County, a portion of the CFX overlays the new U.S. 460 as part of the Appalachian Regional Commission Corridor Q project. The distance of Corridor Q (US 121/460) in Virginia is approximately 14 miles -- running from the existing four-lane U.S. 460 at Grundy, to the Breaks Interstate Park and the Kentucky state line where it connects with the new four-lane U.S. 460 in Kentucky.
For the past several years, the CFX Authority has been working to raise funds to enable the Virginia Department of Transportation to complete this 14 miles as a four-lane, so that it will connect with the four-lane sections on either end and will not leave Buchanan and adjacent Dickenson County without a new modern four-lane highway in this area.
Previously, $14 million has been committed to the four-laning project by the federal government. Buchanan County also committed $3.5 million in match funding for the project. The US121/460 Poplar Creek Phase A & B paving project is ongoing with Phase A completed and the route dedicated in October of this year and Phase B expected to be complete in late 2027.
The total mileage of the CFX completed and open for travel in Virginia is currently 4.95 miles -- approximately 10 percent of the total mileage of the expressway in Virginia. An additional 2.07 miles of the expressway is expected to open in late 2027, which will also complete “Corridor Q” (U.S. 460/121) from Grundy, VA to Pikeville, KY. Also included within Corridor Q in Virginia is the seven-mile U.S. 460 Connector section which opened in November 2023 and connects to the CFX.
“We are pleased to learn of the federal funding for the project just announced this week and we look forward to continuing to work with the legislators and the Governor’s office as the CFX-related budget amendments make their way through the General Assembly this session,” Belcher said. “We have said it before and it bears repeating that the Coalfields Expressway in Virginia is a critical piece to the success of economic development in this region.”
About the Virginia Coalfields Expressway Authority: The Virginia Coalfields Expressway Authority was formed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2017 to improve the transportation into, from, within and through Southwest Virginia; to assist in regional economic development; and to generally enhance highway safety in the affected localities of Southwest Virginia. The Coalfields Expressway, designated as U.S. Route 121 and a Congressional High Priority Corridor, is a proposed limited-access highway to provide a modern, safe and efficient transportation artery through the coalfields region of far Southwest Virginia and southern West Virginia. The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority provides staff support to the authority board. www.vceda.us/cfxauthority.
###
PHOTO CAPTION: Federal funds of $3 million for the Coalfields Expressway were announced Tuesday. State budget amendments which could help with continued work on the expressway are currently under consideration by the General Assembly.