The new Tanner Interstate 65 interchange might soon be the site of a Veterans Administration clinic and post exchange.

Limestone County Commission Chairman David Seibert said Thursday he was asked by VA officials in Birmingham to spearhead the effort to bring the clinic and PX here.

“I’ve made a proposal to Gen. Myles (Maj. Gen. James Myles, commander of Redstone Arsenal and the Army’s Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command” and Col. Pastorelli (Redstone Garrison Commander Col. Robert Pastorelli), and we’ve had several meetings over it,” said Seibert.

“My proposal is that it would take a lot of traffic off the security gate at the arsenal and do away with security clearances. Obviously, people would have to show their ID at the PX.”

One purpose of building the interchange was to improve the evacuation route from Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. But having access to the interstate is also a benefit for county officials recruiting industry to the TVA industrial megasite.

The interchange opened in the fall, but there has been no construction nearby.

“This is by no means a done deal,” said Seibert. “There’s going to have to be more meetings to bring this thing through to fruition.”