
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 11, 1995                   TAG: 9505110110
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

I-73 GETS COMMITTEE APPROVAL

The proposed Interstate 73 route through Western Virginia cleared another hurdle in Congress on Wednesday.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted 15-1 to approve legislation that designates a new system of high-priority federal roads - including a proposed interstate from Michigan to South Carolina that would pass by Blacksburg, Roanoke and Martinsville.

Virginia and North Carolina had been at odds over where the highway should run. But last week, Sens. John Warner, R-Va., and Lauch Faircloth, R-N.C., worked out a deal that would take I-73 from Bluefield, W.Va., to Greensboro, N.C., the route Virginia officials had favored.

In exchange, a new interstate - I-74 - would be designated to connect Interstate 77 at Mount Airy, N.C., with Winston-Salem, N.C., to satisfy North Carolina officials who wanted to bring a new highway through that city.

- Staff report

by CNB