Council awards Greenbrier Bridge contract

The City of Weirton awarded the bid contract for the replacement of the Greenbrier Bridge on Monday to the successful low bid of $96,000 from James White Construction.

Weirton City Council unanimously voted in favor of a resolution to award the contract to James White Construction for being the low bid of five accepted at the recent bid opening. City Manager Gary DuFour stated the funds for the project were not budgeted but will be taken from the City of Weirton's Contingency Fund.

Public Works Director John Brown stated the estimated time frame for the project, according to engineers associated with James White Construction, is approximately eight weeks. He said original estimates put the project out at three months.

"We have all the permits and everything is ready to go," said Brown.

Brown added that the total demolition of the bridge will include all new concrete for a culvert, a drain, pipe or channel that allows water to pass under the road; new headwalls, the device placed at the end of a bridge used to retain the road formation soil around and above the abutments and prevent erosion at the abutment; and new knee braces.

Ward 3 Councilman Fred Marsh said he was pleased with the bid. He said estimates showed the cost of the project could exceed $144,000 to the approximated cost of nearly $160,000.

Brown said once the project is complete, the height restrictions will be removed and the weight capacity the bridge will be able to withstand could exceed 20 tons, making it safe for large vehicles such as garbage trucks and snow plows to cross.

(Dickson can be contacted at adickson@weirtondailytimes.com)