(a) Notwithstanding anything in this article to the contrary, the Commissioner of Highways has final approval of any road construction project.  However, no state road funds may be used, singly or together with funds from any other source, for any purpose or in any manner contrary to or prohibited by the Constitution and laws of this state or the federal government or where such use, in the sole discretion of the Commissioner of Highways, would jeopardize receipt of federal funds.

Terms Used In West Virginia Code 7-27-16

  • Authority: means the governmental entity created in section five, article fifteen, chapter thirty-one, of this code. See West Virginia Code 7-27-3
  • Commissioner of Highways: means the chief executive officer of the Division of Highways of the Department of Transportation provided in section one, article two-a, chapter . See West Virginia Code 7-27-3
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Road: means a public highway, road, bridge, tunnel, or overpass to be used for the transportation of persons or goods including bicycle and pedestrian facilities. See West Virginia Code 7-27-3
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10

(b) All road construction projects that shall be accepted as part of the state road system, and all real property interests and appurtenances, are under the exclusive jurisdiction and control of the Commissioner of Highways, who may exercise the same rights and authority as he or she has over other transportation facilities in the state road system.