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TRIADELPHIA - The latest proposal for a second interchange at The Highlands would be a "half interchange" accommodating those traveling from downtown Wheeling, Ohio, and points west and then returning home.
Members of the Ohio County Development Authority discussed the issue during a Zoom call meeting this week.
County Administrator Randy Russell provided an update, and said he recently traveled to Charleston to meet with Jason Foster, chief engineer at the West Virginia Department of Highways. Foster provided Russell with a copy of the transportation study the DOH commissioned pertaining to a second interchange at The Highlands.
The study suggested a "half interchange" alternative for connecting traffic to and from The Highlands with Interstate 70.
A traditional ramp system traditionally consists of four ramps - an on-ramp and an off-ramp accommodating those coming from the east, and another set of ramps for those in the west.
But the engineering study describes a partial interchange with I-70 that would be located west of the Millenium Centre Technology Park.
It proposes two ramps there that would accommodate those traveling east to The Highlands from downtown Wheeling and Ohio, then returning home on the westbound side.
There would be no on-ramps or off-ramps in the second interchange for those driving in from Washington, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh or Morgantown. It is thought those motorists would continue to use the existing interchange.
It is also likely the pared down proposed interchange would be cheaper to construct. But before construction it would require permission from the U.S. Department of Transportation that is hard to obtain, Russell acknowledged.
"The engineering firm confirmed that we would be able to justify what we would call 'half an interchange,'" Russell said. "The challenge with that type of interchange is that it has to go to Washington D.C. (and federal officials) for approval. And it is very seldom that Washington D.C. approves those type of interchanges."
The engineering firm eliminated the ramps accommodating those coming from the west as it had safety concerns with motorists leaving or entering I-70 along Two-Mile Hill, Russell explained.
He acknowledged the half interchange proposal would eliminate "about 90% of the problems we have" with traffic at The Highlands.
He added he will continue to push state officials on current studies and data showing accident history on Two-Mile Hill.
"We'll see if we can't justify at least getting some of the traffic off of Two-Mile Hill," Russell told OCDA members.
The West Virginia County Commission Association is meeting in Charleston at the end of the month, and Ohio County officials are planning on meeting with State Department of Transportation officials to have more conversations about the interchange and safety issues there, according to Russell.
In other matters, the OCDA re-elected its officers for 2024 - Randy Wharton, president; Eriks Janelsins, vice president; and Mary Pockl, secretary.
The OCDA will not hold its next meeting until 6 p.m. on March 13, with location to be later announced.