The West Virginia Route 2 and I-68 Authority was created by the West Virginia State Legislature in 1997. The Authority is comprised of two representatives from each of the following counties: Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler, Pleasants, Wood, Monongalia and Marion. The Authority has two mandates: focus on widening West Virginia Route 2 from Parkersburg to Chester; and to extend I-68 from North Central West Virginia westward to the Ohio River. The objective of the Authority is to promote and advance the construction of a modern high highway through the above counties for the purpose of planning and assisting in establishing economic and community development along the specified areas.