The Wheeling Suspension Bridge’s fate has quite literally hung in the balance for the past six years. Now, as the most significant renovation of downtown in decades draws to a close, it’s time for the bridge’s future to be revealed. Leaders in Charleston must make a clear, final determination about how this historic span will fit into the city’s skyline — either as a traffic artery or an historic walking span.

The installation of removable bollards at each end of the 176-year-old bridge has reignited discussion about its future. Those obstructions –meant to impede vehicles from accessing the span — appeared at first to signal a permanent shift to pedestrian-only use. But state highway officials on Monday made clear that nothing has been decided, as the bollards can be removed at any time.

In short — the bridge remains, as of now, in its six-plus year limbo.

This comes as the downtown itself is making great strides forward. The $37 million Downtown Streetscape Project is wrapping up. A new Gateway Visitor and Heritage Center is planned for the former Wheeling Inn property, immediately adjacent to the Suspension Bridge. Thousands of visitors enter the city through the Wheeling Tunnel, turning on to Main Street with the bridge front-and-center. The 176-year-old Suspension Bridge should not be an afterthought in that plan — it should be the centerpiece.

The bridge has stood since 1849, serving as a gateway to the western frontier. It has carried everything from wagons to automobiles and even the circus between downtown, Wheeling Island and into Ohio along the National Road. However, in recent years the span has suffered from a multitude of overweight vehicles using it for passage. Dump trucks, a tour bus and simply the increased weight of everyday passenger vehicles have led to additional stress. The bridge has a 2-ton weight limit — about the weight of only the smallest sedans and their passengers.

Since its closing in September 2019, the bridge has undergone an $18 million rehabilitation to restore and protect it for future generations. What remains unclear now is how — or whether — vehicles will again be part of that future. Since its closing, the bridge has been a pedestrian-only landmark. Engineering data, maintenance costs, and safety considerations are all factors in the future.

But so is momentum.

Consider: Wheeling is a city right now investing in itself. Streets have been rebuilt; sidewalks widened; facades restored and public spaces reimagined. Decisions about infrastructure must be part of that vision — and should not be left to drift.

The Suspension Bridge, as both a transportation corridor between downtown and Wheeling Island and a symbol of the city’s identity in the shaping of our state and nation, demands a plan.

Charleston must act. Whether that means reopening the bridge with clear, enforceable limits, or dedicating it fully to pedestrian and bicycle use, city leaders here cannot build a future around uncertainty. Every investment downtown depends on a clear understanding of what the bridge will be.

The Suspension Bridge is not just an old bridge — it is one of the most iconic pieces of history and engineering innovation in our nation. It has earned a future that is intentional, not accidental. The state owes this community a decision — now. In the middle of a downtown revitalization, prolonged uncertainty is unacceptable.

The choice will shape the city for decades. Charleston must act.