For years, area transportation and economic officials have believed that a major north-south highway connecting Lawrence County with northern Ohio could provide an economic boost to the region.

Although no projects like this are likely to happen any time soon,

many officials believe ongoing improvements to the existing system could be just as beneficial.

Currently, the only major north-south highways close by are U.S. 23 in Scioto County and U.S. 35 in Gallia County. In Lawrence County, the only options are state routes 141 and 93, both just two-lane roads not designed for heavy traffic.

A direct highway north from Ironton would be more attractive to economic developers considering locating their businesses here, Mayor Bob Cleary said.

"The Ironton area is somewhat behind the times because we do not have a real strong highway system through here," he said. "We do OK, but if we had a better highway system serving us it would be a real plus to sell the community to new developers. Any improvements to the transportation system is a worthwhile project."

Pat Clonch, executive director of the Lawrence County Area Chamber of Commerce and the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation, said the Transportation Committee has investigated the idea, but getting the funding would be very difficult.

Although it could benefit the area, it is not a priority right now because of money, ongoing projects and existing access to north-south highways like I-77 and I-79 by using I-64, she said.

Southern Ohio's transportation system is also greatly benefited by the Ohio River and the excellent railroad system, Clonch said.

"When the current projects are completed we will have better access than we have ever had before," she said.

"It is not that we do not have a need for north-south highways, but it is just a fact that right now it is not a priority with the Transportation Committee because we have so many other priorities."

Robert Dalton, chairman of the Transportation Committee for more than 20 years, said that the idea has been discussed occasionally, but agreed that it is just not feasible because of the funding required.

However, if plans for a Portsmouth Bypass continue it will allow U.S. 23 and U.S. 52 to provide a good option because it connects to Columbus and Detroit, he said.

"That would serve our purpose," he said. "It is probably our best, cheapest and only opportunity to get a north-south highway through the area. We are fully behind the Portsmouth Bypass."

Roger Haley, park manager of The Point industrial park,

agreed that, while a new or expanded north-south highway would be great,

the proposed Portsmouth Bypass may be nearly as effective.

"We can ship east and west easily with I-64, but we do not have a direct route north," he said. "Better highway access allows better chances of getting the businesses we are trying to attract."

Although north-south projects have been informally discussed several times, no official steps have been made by the Ohio Department of Transportation because the focus for the next 10 to 15 years is on the Chesapeake Bypass, the Portsmouth Bypass and replacing the Ironton-Russell Bridge, Kathleen Fuller, public information officer for ODOT, said.

Phase 1A of the Chesapeake Bypass connected the 31st Street bridge to Irene Road.

Phase 1B, which is scheduled to go to bid next spring, will extend State Route 7 from Irene Road past Fairland East Elementary School. It will take about 2 years to complete.

ODOT hosted a public hearing last week that more than 750 people attended to learn more about the agency's proposal to build a Portsmouth Bypass.

TranSystems Corporation, hired by ODOT to conduct the feasibility studies, discussed the various impacts the project will have on the area's resources, funding and right-of-way issues.

While ODOT has $55 million set aside for the Portsmouth project already,

the entire project is estimated to cost between $166 and $171 million. A

construction timetable has not been outlined, but it is anticipated that the project would not begin construction until 2006 or later.

Under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, Ohio could have become part of the Great Lake/Mid-Atlantic Corridor which would follow along the path of U.S. 23 and become known as Interstate 73. It will extend from Charleston, S.C., to Detroit.

Although the project continues elsewhere, Ohio did a feasibility study that found that while upgrades of U.S. 23 would be beneficial to the state's total transportation program, the benefits would not outweigh the costs to fulfill the purpose and need of the GL/MAC, Fuller said.

In addition, the project has not received an overwhelming amount of support, be it community or need-based, and it does not have the financial support required to build this potentially multi-billion dollar project, she said.

KYOVA is a non-profit association of local governments in southwestern West Virginia and southern Ohio that focuses on regional transportation problems. It acts as a Metropolitan Planning Organization whose goal is to ensure wise and coordinated use of federal and state transportation funds, The organization plans to conduct a feasibility study of upgrading State Route 93 to four lanes from Ironton to Jackson and upgrading State Route 141 to three lanes.

Saleem Salameh, transportation director for KYOVA, said that while they are currently concentrating on ongoing projects, it has been on the schedule for quite some time.

The $500,000 study will not begin for a couple of years and could take quite a while, he said.

The owner of a local trucking company who wished to remain unidentified said that, although there are alternatives such as U.S. 52 and 23, any improvements that would save time and avoid traffic would benefit the trucking industry.

"If it is realistically affordable and not some pie in the sky project, I would support it," he said.