OHIO COUNTY, W.Va.---

Senate Bill 540, as introduced, could expand the Ohio County Development Authority's Tax Increment Financing or TIF District from 300 to 500 acres.

"Basically what it means, is that more tax dollars would come back to the Development Authority, as compared to going to the state," said Ohio County Commissioner Orphy Klempa.

Klempa said that the Development Authority has wanted to add a second interstate interchange at the bottom of 2 Mile Hill.

"There is a lot of congestion at exit 10, and it's a safety issue. Right now there is only one way in and one way out of the Highlands from the interstate," said Klempa.

An estimated $30 million to $50 million interchange is something that neither the federal government nor the state plan to fund at this time.

"Things are tight in Washington, and even the state is getting tight when funding infrastructure projects. In fact, they have a committee together looking just how to maintain roads and bridges in the state," said Klepma.

Klempa said if the bill is passed, the development authority would like to start looking at plans to build the second in interchange within two to three years.