Members say the contributions mean little. Welsh said she didn't think roads should be built just for the sake of building them. I don't think we need to take every cornfield and build a subdivision. We don't need to pave everything. Ybarra, secretary of transportation and a historic supporter of I-73, said she didn't know how political contributions relate to how members vote on where to build a highway project.
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.