In its original draft, the authority was independent and only able to establish the first three projects in the following conditions: one project located in whole or in part in a county with a population equal to or greater than 650,000 persons; one project located in a county or counties that each have a population of fewer that 650,000 persons; and one project shall be a bridge of more than 2 miles in length going from the mainland to a peninsula bordering the state of Virginia.