Displaced homes and businesses, another cost of rerouting the highway, also were recalculated Wednesday for each of the eastern Henry County routes. Napier said that residential displacements could range from about 365 homes on one route, about 400 on another and about 500 on a third. The number of businesses displaced ranged from 39 to 43. The recommended route was expected to take 449 residences, a figure that was recalculated downward from the 465 displacements announced last week, Boles said. Candidates take I-73 en route to November Interstate 73 has overlaid itself on the road map of this fall's election campaign, with several Democrats lining up against its proposed route through Southeast Roanoke and Roanoke County.
Interstate opponents say historical sites and environmental issues are their best means of defense.
Henry County residents somehow got I-73 rerouted. The endangered fish, farm land and forests are concerns that may affect the federal approval of I-73. The new plan through Henry County will also cost just a little less to build. It won't be an interstate in West Virginia. In Virginia, the section from Bluefield to Roanoke is on the back burner.