Brooke commissioners share concerns about Market Street Bridge

Board wants to expedite new bridge’s construction

By WARREN SCOTT, Staff writer
WELLSBURG — Brooke County Commissioners expressed concerns about the Market Street Bridge Tuesday after receiving a letter that dealt with a meeting between a state senator and the state secretary of transportation.


In a letter to the commission, state Sen. Ed Bowman, D-Weirton, said he met with state Secretary of Transportation Paul Mattox Jr. after Steubenville 6th Ward Councilman David “Pokey” Lalich approached him about establishing the span as a toll bridge to generate revenue for its continued maintenance.


Lalich had suggested a 25-cent toll would generate $485,000 for that purpose.


Bowman said he met with Mattox to discuss the proposal.


“It was the belief of those present that the only way a toll charge could be placed is through legislation. I feel confident that I would have a good chance of having such legislation passed,” Bowman wrote.


But Bowman said Mattox “has informed me that the Market Street Bridge’s condition is one of the worst within the state of West Virginia. It appears to be inevitable that it will be closed at some time in the future and that the idea of a toll bridge may be moot subject.”


“The secretary further informed me that the Market Street Bridge continues to receive regular inspections due to its condition and when the inspectors determine that the bridge would be unsafe for operation, it will be closed to all traffic,” Bowman said.


“I can assure you that I and the other legislators from our area that were present at this meeting are very concerned with the safety of the bridge as well as the adverse effect it will have on our local transportation system,” Bowman wrote.


Mattox couldn’t be reached for comment on Bowman’s letter.


But the commission also received a letter from Mattox on Tuesday announcing plans to perform minor repairs to the span’s towers, cables, hangers and floor system next year.


“These repairs primarily will allow us to maintain the existing weight limit rating of the bridge. We will evaluate the cost of cleaning and painting as well,” Mattox wrote.


The letter was in response to a letter from the county commissioners requesting the bridge be painted, citing its appearance. Other local officials have made the same request.


In response to Bowman’s letter, Bernie Kazienko, president of the county commission, said, “Of course our primary concern is for our residents who cross the bridge.”


He added, “It will have some serious consequences on our people if it does close.”


At a meeting earlier this year of the Ohio Valley Bridge Task Force, a grassroots group pushing for the construction of new Ohio River bridge, Mike Epperly, regional design engineer for the state division of highways, confirmed reports the bridge, which was completed in 1905, could be closed in three to four years because of poor conditions cited by engineers employed by the state.


Epperly added the timeline is only an estimate and the bridge could close later or earlier than expected. He said the state will delay the closing as long as possible, but area residents shouldn’t expect major renovations to the span, though no cap has been placed on repairs for the bridge.


Following that news, local representatives to the state Legislature, city officials in Follansbee, Steubenville, Weirton and Wellsburg; and the Brooke County Commission petitioned the state to keep the bridge open as long as possible.


Del. Tim Ennis, D-Brooke, approached Howard Cullens, assistant commissioner of highways, about the bridge’s status.


In a letter that was forwarded to many public officials, Cullins said, “The Market Street Bridge is a vital link to the traveling public in the Northern Panhandle region and the Division of Highways is committed to maintaining that link. Annual inspections are performed each calendar year to assess the bridge’s condition. From the inspections, repairs are identified in order to preserve the current 5-ton posted (weight) limit.”


On Tuesday, Kazienko noted there already are plans by the Ohio Department of Transportation to demolish the Fort Steuben Bridge next spring. Ohio highway officials have declared the span, which was built in 1929, structurally deficient and functionally obsolete.


Kazienko said the bridge’s closing will have a big impact on the flow of traffic to the Veterans Memorial Bridge, particularly from Weirton.


He said the closing “will create a burden on the city of Weirton at the intersection of Freedom Way and state Route 2.”


The Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission has pushed for changes to improve access to the newer Veterans Memorial Bridge from Weirton and Steubenville.


Brooke County Commissioner Marty Bartz said it may be necessary to require a toll for a proposed new Ohio River bridge in order to get that span completed.


A BHJ committee made up of public officials and community members from the three counties has recommended the new span be built between Brilliant, Ohio and Wellsburg following an independent study commissioned by the planning commission that considered such factors as cost, environmental impact, improved response by emergency vehicles and opportunity for economic development.


U.S. Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, both D-W.Va., have allocated $18 million for an environmental impact study, preliminary designs and possibly, some easements for the proposed four-lane bridge.


Jim Sothen, deputy director of engineering for the state Department of Transportation, has estimated the bridge will cost at least $100 million and take 15 months to two years to design.


Representatives of HDR Consultants of Weirton, the engineering firm hired to perform the environmental impact study, are slated to discuss the expected impact of the Fort Steuben Bridge’s closing and the possible closing of the Market Street Bridge at BHJ’s Sept. 18 meeting.


In other business, the commission approved an across-the-board, 50-cent raise for 57 full-time county employees, retroactive to July 1. Employees in the county’s emergency 911 center and ambulance service received raises in recent months through the efforts of Brooke County Sheriff Rich Ferguson and John Schwertfeger, county ambulance director.


The move comes after many of the county’s employees complained their wages were not far above newer and part-time employees who are seeing a rise in wages because of the federally mandated increase for minimum wage.


Kazienko said the wage hike will be covered by the county’s unencumbered balance from the previous fiscal year.





(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com)