Plans continue for Chesapeake Bypass

PROCTORVILLE — Adding a highway link to the proposed Chesapeake Bypass from Gallia County was among the projects discussed at the quarterly KYOVA Interstate Planning Commission Friday at Ohio University Proctorville.

The link would be the U.S. 35-State Route 775 North-South Corridor.

“It has been added to the long-term transportation plan and that is to allow that project to eventually receive funding for planning and design phase,” County Engineer Doug Cade said.

The commission also heard an update on the Chesapeake Bypass from a representative from the Ohio Department of Transportation who reported that ODOT has completed Stage 1 plans.

“They are expecting to have Stage 2 in the fall of 2012 and that allows them to purchase right of way,” Cade said. “They can start purchasing some right of way and that will take 24 months to get the real estate.”

ODOT plans to schedule a public meeting in the spring of 2012 before it completes Stage 2.

Other programs under review at the meeting were:

• Charlie Creek Project where a 490-foot-long intersection on County Road 144 is progressing through funding issues;

• The Point Intermodal River Facility has received funding for a gantry crane, is starting river development in the next few months and is working on a transportation grant for a riverside crane;

• City of Ironton Traffic Flow Project has completed Stage 1 and is working Stages 2 and 3 with a final review expected before the project goes to bid July 1, 2012.

“The great thing (about the meetings) is we get an opportunity to get updated on all projects in the Tri-State, not just Lawrence County,” Cade said. “We can better plan as a region rather than an isolated community.”