Weather, COVID-19 Delay Bethlehem Bridges Project
Bridge Still Scheduled to Reopen in July
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BETHLEHEM -- If you live or travel regularly through this small village outside Wheeling, then you know the traffic headaches that have been caused by the two major bridge redecking projects that have been underway for the past two years.
The headaches should end in July, as the Spruce Street Bridge over Interstate 470 is set to reopen.
The project's general contractor is blaming weather-related delays and an overall slowdown of work and available materials caused by the COVID-19 pandemic
While the Kokosing Construction Co. of Westerville, Ohio, initially hoped to complete the project earlier this year to prevent any possible conflict with the I-70 Bridges Project, the actual "contract" completion date is set for sometime this fall, according to West Virginia Division of Highways District 6 Engineer Tony Clark.
The Spruce Street Bridge project is part of a $6.1 million plan to re-deck the span and the longer Chapel Road Bridge span over I-470. That bridge, which is not yet fully complete, reopened last year.
"As far as our contract with them, they still have plenty of time," Clark explained. "Both bridges are part of the same contract. ... Basically, the delays were due to the slowdown due to the COVID situation and weather has kind of plagued them. The controlling factor was getting the deck poured. They are progressing now, and I'm hearing possibly as early as late June, but maybe more into July as their projected date as to getting that (bridge) reopened to traffic."
The concrete deck on the Spruce Street Bridge was just poured over the past couple of weeks.
While Kokosing was able to reopen the Chapel Road Bridge late last year -- it's the span that sits about 100 feet above I-470, with large piers anchored into the hillside -- there are still a few updates left including new safety fencing. "Closed Sidewalk" signs are located at both ends of the Chapel Road Bridge and there are still some overhang jacks and other work-related supplies attached to the structure.
"Although Chapel Road (Bridge) is open to traffic, it is not complete yet," Clark said.
He noted there is still some touch-up painting and minor renovation work the contractor has to go back and do on the structure. Clark said he expects the contractor to install safety fencing as the last phase of that project since the contractor still needs access to the underside of the deck to complete the work.
Bethlehem Mayor Don Junkins said while he is aware the contractor still has a few months left to complete the project, he feels it could be moving faster. He is hopeful crews can finish it as soon as possible because of several concerns he has related to the overall project.
Junkins said village residents have expressed frustration to him about the heavy traffic and speeding that occurs through the neighborhood on both sides of the Chapel Street Bridge since the start of the Spruce Street Bridge project.
"The residents there -- they see the traffic, they say it's heavy. They say there is speeding," Junkins explained. "There were numerous times we had a (police) cruiser up there in the church parking lot, and that really didn't seem to slow them down."
In addition, Junkins said more litter has been discarded along that section of roadway, while pointing out a Bethlehem boy made it a personal project recently to clean up the edges of Chapel Road after noticing additional litter along the road.
Junkins said he is hopeful the contractor can get both safety fencing and a "catwalk" back in place on the Chapel Road Bridge as soon as possible. He said despite the "closed sidewalk" signs he noticed people are still walking across the span. In addition, he hopes the DOH will put the weight limit signs back in place at both ends of the span over concerns overweight trucks may be crossing the bridge.
Former 3rd Ward Bethlehem Village Councilman Charles "Chuck" Griffin, who is opposing Junkins for the position of mayor in the upcoming June 9 municipal election, said his primary concerns center around the contractor going back to complete work on the Chapel Road Bridge project following the Spruce Street Bridge work.
"Are they going to go back to the Chapel Road Bridge and put the (safety) railings like it used to be?" Griffin said.
He said he is also hopeful they will eventually fix the entrances at both sides of the structure, as there are potholes in the area.