HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — State and federal highway officials say a new bridge monitoring system being used on a Huntington bridge will increase safety and save money.
USDOT Director of Strategic Initiatives Shaz Umer, Gov. Patrick Morrisey, and state Transportation Secretary Stephen Todd Rumbaugh were at the East Huntington Bridge Thursday to promote the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) equipment being used that provides real-time monitoring of the bridge’s structural condition.
An $820,000 grant through the SMART (Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation) Grant Program was used to finance the project.
“This project increases bridge safety and utilizes intelligent sensors to identify areas of concern for the bridge as opposed to waiting for an incident to happen,” Umer said.
Umer said the sensor system is more than just upkeep, he said it’s pushing the boundaries about what’s possible in infrastructure care.
“These advanced technological sensors provide critical data on the bridge’s structural performance enabling West Virginia’s (DOH) to prioritize repairs and maintain maintenance more effectively. The system’s real-time data collection is a game changer,” Umer said.
He said the system is saving taxpayers approximately $350,000 a year.
“That’s a win for West Virginia and that’s a win for our taxpayers,” Umer said.
Governor Morrisey Joins WV DOT, US DOT to Highlight SMART Grant Program https://t.co/JmTJLZrdWF
— Governor Patrick Morrisey (@wvgovernor) August 7, 2025
Rumbaugh said there’s a personal aspect.
“Most importantly, it means safer roads, stronger connection and peace of mind for every West Virginian that travels across one our bridges,” Rumbaugh said.
He said the state’s bridges may be aging but the DOH’s approach to maintaining them is not.
“With the SMART grant program we are moving from reactive maintenance to proactive monitoring,” Rumbaugh said.
Earlier this summer, Gov. Morrisey outlined how highway maintenance and bridge work would be priorities of his administration.
Morrisey cited a recent report during an event in Bridgeport on June 9 that said 14 percent of the state’s bridges are in poor condition. He said his goal is to significantly get that number down.
“It’s going to be a massive culture change in state government,” Morrisey said. “It’s going to require us to get smarter and use more data to prioritize maintenance so we get more out of every dollar we have, so we’re going to be looking at different ways we can save so we don’t overpay for services.”
Umer, who also appeared on MetroNews Midday Thursday, said the system is like a Smart Watch for the DOH and the traveling public. He said the different sensors pick up critical information from the bridge. He said the system was able to measure an earthquake that registered 3.3 on the Richter Scale last fall.
“If something happens they (DOH) are able to respond much quicker, must faster,” Umer said.