State Sen. John Carey has not given up on getting the Chesapeake Bypass funded - and he plans to prove it today.

Dreamed about for decades, the project that has become known as the Tri-State Metro Outer Belt remains in limbo because the state has not committed monies to complete the project.

Meeting today in the Senate's Highway and Transportation Committee, Carey plans to propose an amendment to House Bill 230, an omnibus bill that focuses on public safety and transportation, that would require the Ohio Department of Transportation to purchase the right-of-way for the project. Land acquisition for Phase 2 is projected to cost between $15 and $20 million.

"I strongly feel that ODOT has not honored their commitment," Carey said of the issue that has begun to get heated. "When the Governor came down to southern Ohio, he made a commitment and I took him at his word. … I see this as the bureaucrats pursuing their own agendas."

Carey said he was appalled to hear that ODOT officials said that southeastern Ohio had received too much money.

Earlier this month, ODOT's Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) declined an appeal to add the bypass to its $3.7 billion tentative project list for 2005-2010.

"It was pretty obvious that the appeal was decided before any of us got out of our cars," Carey said. "Basically, it was a waste of time."

All three of the Lawrence County Commissioners were expected to visit Columbus today to show their support.

Commissioner Jason Stephens was hoping for the best, adding that all of southern Ohio's elected officials have fought tirelessly for the project.

"Everyone was disappointed with the TRAC decision a few weeks ago. But they are just an advisory committee," Stephens said. "The ultimate authority is the people. The people obviously want to see this happen. We appreciate John Carey standing up for this project."

As originally planned, the four-phased project would construct a four-lane highway spanning nine miles from State Route 7 where the four-lane currently dead ends to State Route 7 on the other side of Proctorville.

Phase 1A has been completed and Phase 1B is under construction. Phase 2 of the project would construct two eastbound lanes from State Route 7 to State Route 527. Phase 3 would construct two westbound lanes and complete the interchanges.