ROCK HILL, S.C. -- A huge road project linking two counties is finally getting a good look in Rock Hill on Friday night.

York and Lancaster county leaders expect to see the details for the first time.

The plan is to extend Dave Lyle Boulevard from near the Rock Hill Galleria Mall all the way into Lancaster County, about 12 miles. The road would cross the Catawba River and connect with Highway 521 in the Indian Land area.

The idea has been kicked around for years, but paying for such a massive project and figuring out the economic benefit have kept the idea on ice.

That's why last year both counties agreed to pay for a study to answer some of those questions and come up with a likely route for the road.

Some of those questions are being answered in Rock Hill as officials see the results of that study.

"The 800-pound gorilla in the room is, of course, the cost," said York County Manager Jim Baker.

Baker said if the counties can agree to go forward, they would then apply for funds through the state infrastructure bank. That money would come through the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Lancaster County Manager Steve Willis said his concern, beyond the very high cost, is putting more traffic on an already congested Highway 521.

"There's already a lot of traffic there. I would be concerned about dumping more traffic on that road," Willis said.

If it becomes reality, the new road would give people another way to get from Rock Hill to Lancaster, and another route over the river besides the Highway 5 bridge and the Highway 9 bridge near Fort Lawn.

"It'd bring jobs here to Rock Hill, that's why I'd be for it," said Eddie Smith, who lives a stone's throw from Dave Lyle.

He said it's hard to be against the growth and economic boost that would come from extending the road, but paying for it could cost everyone.

"They'd probably raise taxes way up on us, and that could hurts lots of people – middle-class people, low-income people," Smith said.

Xai Yang runs a dry cleaning business in one of Dave Lyles' newer shopping plazas. He said being in business is all about location, and customers from Lancaster would be a boost for every business along the boulevard.

"With the exposure of new people coming here, that's something I'd really look forward to, definitely," Yang said.

Officials said both counties must still work out a lot of details, including how to raise the local matching funds that would be required if they're awarded a state grant. If that money comes through, it would be four to five years or more until shovels hit dirt on the project.

Baker said federal stimulus money is out of the question for the Dave Lyle extension because the project is a ways off, and not "shovel-ready."