WHEELING, W.Va. –City of Wheeling officials received an update Wednesday from the state Division of Highways on the future of the Wheeling Suspension Bridge.
According to a DOH release, the bridge closed to vehicular traffic in 2019, after an overweight tour bus crossed the span in defiance of weight restrictions and permanently damaged the structure.
“While the Wheeling Suspension bridge may no longer support traffic between downtown and Wheeling Island, the WVDOH is committed to ensuring the bridge continues to be centerpiece of the community,” DOT Secretary Todd Rumbaugh said.
The DOH plans to enhance lighting, signing, and other features for future pedestrian use of the structure.
The bridge, designed by Charles Ellet Jr., was built in 1847 by the Wheeling and Belmont Bridge Company and opened to traffic in November 1849. It was the first bridge in America to span the main body of the Ohio River. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975.
The release said engineers are looking to secure a study that will help identify measures to preserve the bridge while complying with National Historic Landmark standards.
The study is set to include a review of options including:
-to reduce the weight of the existing bridge deck
-design repairs to the original suspension cables
-make masonry repairs to the towers
-clean the cut stone
-replace the timber stiffening trusses
“My team and I are just the lasts in a long line of stewards for this iconic structure,” Rumbaugh said. “Our goal is to ensure this bridge is around for future generations to enjoy.”