In the 1920s, West Virginia's Good Roads Movement aimed to fix the state’s poor roads, which were muddy and hard to travel, especially in the mountains. After voters approved two amendments (in 1920 and 1928), the state raised $85 million through bonds and gas taxes to build better roads. The goal was to connect all county seats with paved roads.

By 1929, nearly every county seat had at least one hard-surfaced road, and major cities were finally linked. This helped cars, trucks, and buses spread across the state, changing the economy and daily life. However, some roads had to be rebuilt later due to rushed planning, and the Great Depression made it hard to maintain the system.