In most cases, whether it is in life, business or sports, the triumph comes through preparation, execution and perseverance.

Those are all qualities that, in the end, whether it is a win or a loss, a person can feel good that everything possible has been done.

In terms of the Chesapeake Bypass, often dubbed the Tri-State Metro Outerbelt, perseverance has been key because of the seemingly continual funding roadblocks to complete the project.

On many occasions, local officials have prepared and executed a quality plan to Ohio’s Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) only to see other projects be funded.

Many of those local officials however, have continued their persistence in making the case for funding and this week the project saw a small victory when TRAC placed $5 million into the budget of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to purchase land in the project’s corridor.

Although it wasn’t the resources necessary to complete the project, being awarded any funding is a step in the right direction.

Our local leadership should be commended for continuing the hard work and determination to not allow TRAC to forget about the project in Lawrence County. The fight has been ongoing for decades on the project that would build an essential highway connecting the Tri-State and developing a better link to the entire state and region.

Ultimately, continuing the efforts to show officials that Southern Ohio’s success is vital to all of Ohio and our region.