by Jaime Ely | Tue, July 29th 2025 at 6:11 PM
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BROOKE COUNTY, W.Va. — A long-anticipated infrastructure project, the I-68 Energy-Manufacturing Corridor, has gained momentum with Brooke County becoming the first to officially support the initiative.
The project, which has been in the works for three to four decades, aims to widen W.Va. 2 to four lanes from Parkersburg to Chester and extend the highway from Morgantown westward to W.Va. 2
Officials advocating for the project believe the timing is ideal, as it seeks to capitalize on the region’s abundant energy resources to boost manufacturing.
“It’s a perfect time with President Trump’s initiative to bring manufacturing back on shore. We sit in a perfect location from a cost and a profitability basis,” Bob Miller Jr., executive director of the Route 2/I-68 Authority, said.
The project had previously garnered support from the first Trump administration, but communication stalled under the Biden administration. Talks have resumed with the current Trump administration, but officials stress the need for key stakeholders to engage in discussions.
“We need to have Governor DeWine of Ohio and we need Governor Morrisey on board to at least go with us to have discussions and negotiations,” Miller, Jr. said.
Brooke County commissioners have pledged their support, marking a significant step forward. Officials highlight the potential benefits of the corridor, including the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs through enhanced infrastructure.
“It probably wouldn’t change as far as the energy industry, but when it comes to manufacturing, the government’s job, in my opinion, is to provide infrastructure—not to build the facilities, but to provide easy access, and that’s what we need,” Miller said.
“It’s jobs. It’s just not another highway,” Miller said.
https://wtov9.com/news/local/brooke-county-backs-i-68-energy-manufacturing-corridor-project