A study from a Virginia-based economist found building Interstate 73 in Southwest and Southside Virginia could bring an estimated $8.1 billion in economic benefits for the region.
Dr. Chris Chmura, founder of Chmura Economics & Analytics, authored the study.
The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission and the Harvest Foundation paid for the study.
No firm date for starting the Interstate 73 project has ever been set.
The proposed roadway would run through the New River Valley on Route 460, hook up with Interstate 81 through Roanoke, then basically run parallel to Route 220 through Franklin County and Henry County to the North Carolina state line.
You can link to the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce's website with information on the study in the "related links" section above.
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