There are three primary reasons why a second interchange is needed for The Highlands development in Ohio County, but not one of them is the traffic congestion that takes place during the holiday shopping season.
Not specifically, anyway, according to Ohio County Commissioner Zach Abraham.
In short, it’s about flow, safety, and new development.
“Because the development is so large, I feel there should be two ways to travel in and out of it because it would be economically harmful to the businesses that are up there if people cannot get in and out of there relatively easily. They will just go somewhere else,” Abraham said. “There are distribution centers that operate at The Highlands and it’s important that those trucks can travel in and out without any issues.
“Plus, having just one way in and out can be a safety issue for the people who work and shop there. It is pretty busy up there most days and getting people in and out of there can be difficult at times,” the commissioner continued. “And the third reason for the second interchange is continued economic development. Once that interchange is in place it will allow us to create new opportunities for development.”
The success of The Highlands Sports Complex, an expansive indoor facility that has proven popular with local teams and groups from outside the area, has added to the traffic issues, especially on weekends.
“The complex was needed in this area and now that it’s fully open, we are seeing a lot of teams coming in from out of town,” Abraham said. “That’s a great thing for the businesses up there because the restaurants are feeding more and the stores are seeing customers. Adding more commerce was definitely one of the reasons why we consider and the complex a success.
“It started slowly because of the pandemic. The virus came into play just when the construction crews were finishing the project,” he recalled. “We are discussing the planned fitness center because the bids came in about $80,000 than what was expected, so we’re talking about whether or not we should repurpose those funds, or if we should alter the plan for the center to make it more affordable.”
Millions More
The Commission introduced the possible project in 2012 and since the lumbering has taken place in a valley near The Highlands Sports Complex. The initial cost projection was nearly $40 million, but now that several years have passed, Abraham believes the second interchange would cost about $75 million.
That is why the Ohio County Commission has engaged in conversations with officials from federal and state governments in an effort to form a three-way partnership for the project that would take place near Middle Creek Road along Interstate 70.
“I believe the county could fund about a third, or $25 million if we can get the help we need to make it a reality,” he explained. “That’s why we really don’t have a timeline right now, but that could come in the near future if we can partner with the federal and state levels.”
“I have scanned over the plans and it would be a full interchange that would allow people to enter and leave The Highlands in both directions, and I believe it would become very popular as soon as it opens,” Abraham said. “When the development first opened, the second interchange wasn’t necessary, but now with all the growth up there over the years, I feel it definitely is now.”
The county commission and the Ohio County Development Authority own approximately 1,000 acres of property in that area, and about 200 acres remain available for future construction. Abraham confirmed a few new businesses soon will open at The Highlands, but the commissioner did not identify the new stores.
“We have seen a lot of growth through the years, but we’ve seen some business close for whatever reasons, so I believe we need to make it as easy as possible to get in and out.” He said. “A second interchange would accomplish that goal so we plan to keep moving forward with the necessary conversations. And yes, a second interchange would help a lot during that holiday shopping season.”
