Editing Interstate 68 (section)

===Proposed extension===
In the 1990s, there was discussion about a future westward extension to I-68. Such an extension would connect the western terminus of I-68 in Morgantown to [[West Virginia Route 2|WV&nbsp;2]] in [[Moundsville, West Virginia|Moundsville]]. A 1989 proposal had suggested a toll road be built along this corridor.<ref name=cgzmnd>{{cite news |work = [[Charleston Gazette]] |first = Rick |last = Steelhammer |date = November 28, 2000 |title = I-68 Extension Hearings to be Next Week |page=2A}}</ref> In 2003, the [[Federal Highway Administration]] (FHWA) approved the extension, paving the way for federal funding and for the road to become part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]] on completion.<ref name=wvdotmnd>{{cite press release |publisher = [[West Virginia Department of Transportation]] |first = Carol |last = Melling |date = October 31, 2003 |title = I-68 Extension Now Eligible for Federal Funding |url = http://www.wvdot.com/13_news/13_news_dtl.cfm?s=456 |access-date = January 17, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090523140013/http://www.wvdot.com/13_news/13_news_dtl.cfm?s=456 |archive-date = May 23, 2009 }}</ref> The project, however, ran into problems due to lack of funds, and, in 2008, West Virginia Governor [[Joe Manchin]] suggested dropping the project altogether, making construction of a westward extension of I-68 unlikely in the near future.<ref name=wnrmnd>{{cite news |work = [[Wheeling News-Register]] |first = Art |last = Limann |date = August 12, 2008 |title = Authority Won't Give Up on I-68 to Marshall |url = http://www.news-register.net/page/content.detail/id/512794.html |access-date = January 17, 2009 |archive-date = July 16, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716100038/http://www.news-register.net/page/content.detail/id/512794.html |url-status = dead }}</ref>

In 2014, [[Marshall County, West Virginia|Marshall County]] officials brought the extension of I-68 up again as a way for oil companies to have easier access to drill into the area, likely by [[fracking]]. Much like the second leg of [[Pennsylvania Route 576|PA&nbsp;576]] (Southern Beltway) in the [[Pittsburgh]] area, an extension of I-68 is being spurred in response to the [[Marcellus natural gas trend]]. If the extension were to be built, it would also include a widening of WV&nbsp;2 to four lanes and would cost an estimated $5&nbsp;million per mile ({{convert|5|e6$/mi|e6$/km|abbr=unit|disp=output number only}}/km). It is expected that the project would be divided into two legs, first from Morgantown to [[Cameron, West Virginia|Cameron]] and then Cameron to Moundsville.<ref>{{cite news |first = Nate |last = Fluharty |url = http://www.wtrf.com/story/26539668/plans-moving-forward-for-moundsville-to-morgantown-highway |title = Plans Moving Forward for Moundsville-to-Morgantown Highway |location = Wheeling, WV |publisher = [[WTRF-TV]] |date = September 15, 2014 |access-date = September 16, 2014 |archive-date = September 16, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140916132409/http://www.wtrf.com/story/26539668/plans-moving-forward-for-moundsville-to-morgantown-highway |url-status = live }}</ref>

Others have proposed extending I-68 to [[Wheeling, West Virginia]], and connecting it with [[Interstate 470 (Ohio–West Virginia)|I-470]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swint |first=Howard |date=October 5, 2019 |title=Howard Swint: I-68 extension lynch pin for W.Va. development |url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_commentaries/howard-swint-i-68-extension-lynch-pin-for-w-va-development/article_b2d17136-b2fb-5923-89e2-21d30a1169fb.html |access-date=March 26, 2022 |website=Charleston Gazette-Mail |language=en |archive-date=June 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609043919/https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_commentaries/howard-swint-i-68-extension-lynch-pin-for-w-va-development/article_b2d17136-b2fb-5923-89e2-21d30a1169fb.html |url-status=live }}</ref>