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The Belmont-Ohio-Marshall Regional Council's

Transportation Improvement Program for fiscal 2010-13 is scheduled to be reviewed by an advisory committee during an open meeting, set for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Bel-O-Mar office, 105 Bridge Street Plaza, Wheeling.

WHEELING - A plan that calls for spending about $105 million on local highway projects is up for review by the public and local officials.

The Belmont-Ohio-Marshall Regional Council's Transportation Improvement Program for fiscal 2010-13 is scheduled to be reviewed by an advisory committee during an open meeting, set for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Bel-O-Mar office, 105 Bridge Street Plaza, Wheeling.

The document - that includes projects such as an estimated $40 million interchange near the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville - is scheduled to be adopted by the organization's executive committee during an open meeting set for noon Thursday at the Bel-O-Mar office.

The executive committee includes representatives from each county and communities in each county.

According to a legal advertisement, public input is being sought on the program. A draft is available at the Bel-O-Mar office or online at www.belomar. org.

However, the current document available for public review does not exactly reflect what projects will actually occur.

Bob Muransky, Bel-O-Mar transportation director, said the document has not been updated to show which projects will occur and those already completed. However, the advisory committee will adopt the document in its current form with this understanding, he said.

For example, the draft TIP lists one Ohio County project as the construction of an Intermodal Transportation Facility in the city of Wheeling. Muransky confirmed this refers to the same facility that was already constructed and now stands on Main Street in downtown Wheeling.

Though such projects still are listed in the new TIP, the advisory committee members will be going over the active projects during the Wednesday meeting, he noted.

There are other projects listed but considered ''not active,'' he said, because the organization does not expect enough federal, state or local funding to be available.

He estimated the combined funding for all three counties at a total of $105,477,000. Broken down, that means: $63,528,000 for Belmont County; $21,739,000 for Ohio County; and $20,210,000 for Marshall County.

An example of a ''not active'' project is construction of a new Aetnaville Bridge. It is listed, but not expected to actually occur, he noted.

Other projects listed but ''not active'' include: construction of a new four-lane W.Va. 2 from Interstate 70 to existing W.Va. 2 south of Warwood; construction of a new U.S. 250 from I-70 to Cadiz; construction of a new I-70 interchange west of Bridgeport; and construction of a new roadway from Moundsville to Interstate 79.

Muransky noted the organization also does not prioritize projects with rankings anymore, though the document still shows such rankings.

He noted in the past, the TIP included many wish list-type projects, but the organization is expected to now list realistic endeavors.

Most projects are selected by the state, but the committee does offer input, Muransky said.

He noted many projects are being considered stricken from the list because of funding restrictions.

''Most states are in maintenance mode,'' he said. ''We're trying to get major projects done. We don't expect a lot.''

For example, ''major projects'' would include the Mall Road interchange in St. Clairsville.

''Modifications to Mall Road would cost three times what the whole new Cabela's interchange cost,'' Muransky said, estimating the project could cost $40 million or more.

In its long-range 2035 plan, the organization is looking ahead in Ohio County and the impact The Highlands retail development will have on I-70 traffic.

When the site grows, additional I-70 lanes may be needed between the I-470 interchange in Elm Grove and the Pennsylvania state line, he said.

''It may require six lanes of traffic by the time The Highlands is fully developed,'' Muransky said.

He noted, however, it is more likely there will only be enough funding to expand lanes between Elm Grove and the Cabela's interchange.