Oftentimes in sports, victory comes down to preparation, execution and giving 100 percent effort. At that point, win or lose, you can feel assured that you did everything possible.

Many things in life are much the same way.

When it comes to the Cheasapeake Bypass, often called the Tri-State Metro Outerbelt, it looks like Lawrence County officials have done just that, doing everything possible to argue the case for this project to the Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC).

Our leadership should be commended for this hardwork and fighting so hard for a decades-long project that would create a vital highway system connecting the entire Tri-State and better linking it with the rest of the east coast.

By all accounts the preparation and presentation as to why this project will benefit all of southern Ohio was second to none.

Now it is up to the TRAC.

The Ohio Department of Transportation, which would handle completing the construction of the bypass, is seeking $17 million for land acquisition for rights of way and $62 million for construction.

This may sound like a lot of money but this is just a drop in the bucket compared to highway projects around the big Cs of Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati.

Showing officials that southern Ohio’s success impacts the rest of the state is a tough challenge but one that can be overcome.