A Fresh Coat On The Way for Wheeling Suspension Bridge
Photo by Derek Redd WHEELING -- Work is underway to prepare the Wheeling Suspension Bridge for a new coat of paint.
Matt Oskin, project manager at Advantage Steel & Construction of Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, said subcontractor 446 Painting of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, has started the job of blasting the wood and steel on the historic span. After it is blasted it will be primed and painted. He estimated it would take about a month to complete, pending weather conditions.
"They're blasting off the old paint using a Sponge-Jet system. It's more environmentally friendly," Oskin said.
He said the method does not use water or air, but pieces of sponge. The tarps catch the pieces of sponge that can be sucked up, recycled and reused in the process. According to the Sponge-Jet company website, the method uses synthetic sponge pieces that can be used on more delicate surfaces. Abrasive or micro-abrasive material is added to the sponge.
The primed sections of the bridge look gray in color.
Oskin said previously the bridge would be repainted in its existing colors of red, white and blue.
Oskin said that, at the moment, no structural work is underway on the bridge.
One walkway is being maintained during the $17 million project that involves replacing the bridge's support cables.
That work is expected to begin in June or July.
He noted Heritage Trail will remain open during the work as it will be safe for people to walk under that portion of the span.
"There's no issue with anything falling from above," Oskin said.
The bridge's main cables will remain, located on the downtown side, but new anchors will be drilled for them. Some steel work will be done on the bridge, but there isn't much steel that needs replaced.
The Wheeling Suspension Bridge was constructed in 1849 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The span has a 2-ton weight limit. In recent years it has closed temporarily because of damage caused by oversized vehicles traveling on it.
During the past few years some of the support cables have snapped as well forcing temporary closures of the bridge.
In September 2019 it was closed to all vehicle traffic. Until then it had been the oldest suspension bridge still in continuous use in the United States.
State Division of Highways officials have said previously that it is still undetermined whether the bridge will be reopened to vehicle traffic following the renovation.
On Wednesday, Wheeling Island residents Maggie and Bob Mizell were walking their dog, Luna, on the island side of the bridge in the empty lot where the future Gateway Park is expected to be built by the city of Wheeling.
They were taking in the view of the work happening on the bridge while enjoying the sunny weather. Maggie Mizell said she hoped the bridge would eventually re-open to vehicle traffic.
"I really look forward to it opening again," she said. "We love it."