Washington Ave. Bridge Temporarily Closing For Repairs
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The Washington Ave. Bridge will close for about a month Monday, allowing the City of Wheeling to make repairs that, if not made, could run the risk of the bridge closing much longer.
The city announced Tuesday that the bridge, which connects National Road to Interstate 70 and WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, will close for approximately 30 days for repairs. Those repairs, the city said, would provide the span additional time until the bridge can be replaced.
City Manager Robert Herron said the bridge is at imminent risk of some shifts that would require it to be closed for an extended period of time. However, the pending repairs will provide additional time until the bridge can be replaced.
"We recognize the inconvenience this temporary closure will cause," Herron said, "but these urgent repairs are necessary to ensure that the bridge, which is a main traffic artery connecting National Road to Interstate 70, remains solid and functional for the next few years while the WVDOH is putting together our project."
A recent inspection by the West Virginia Division of Highways indicated significant deterioration of the bridge and the need for emergency action. City council earlier this month hired Quality Steel Erecting Inc. of St. Clairsville to perform the necessary repairs.
With regard to emergency response, Wheeling Fire Chief Jim Blazier said the fire department is prepared for the closure.
"Because a reduced weight limit on the bridge was implemented some time ago, we have already adjusted the running schedules to address response times," he said. "We will continue to do that. We also have alternate response routes and contingency plans for unforeseen traffic events so we do not increase response times for that section of Wheeling."
The Washington Avenue Bridge is slated for replacement through a partnership between the DOH and the City. That replacement date is yet to be determined.
The DOH has agreed to fund 80% of the overall cost of the replacement, while the city government will fund the remaining 20%. The total cost of the project is about $7.8 million and it will be administered by the WVDOH.