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BHJ gets update on upcoming road projects, bridge work

STEUBENVILLE — The Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission Wednesday received an update on upcoming road projects from an official with the state Division of Highways.

Prior to the meeting, Gus Suwaid, district director for WVDOH, responded to questions about the new Ohio River bridge to be built between Brilliant and an area about a mile south of Wellsburg.

Suwaid said the start of the $131 million project is pending the issue of permits from the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard and others. Once those are approved, easements for property in the area will be pursued, he said.

Suwaid confirmed much of the adjacent property is owned by the state, which was one reason it was favored as the span’s future site.

Two BHJ studies showed the need for the new bridge, citing the advancing age of the Market Street Bridge and the since-demolished Fort Steuben Bridge and the distance between the newer Veterans Memorial Bridge and bridges in the Wheeling area.

Officials have suggested the span would encourage economic development in the southern ends of Brooke and Jefferson counties while offering another transportation artery in areas that have been plagued by rock slides.

Suwaid said construction of the bridge isn’t expected to begin until mid-summer.

The Flatiron Corp. was selected as the general contractor after submitting the lowest of three bids and a proposal that reduced the anticipated completion date by a year.

To complete the bridge by spring 2021, the company plans to build the span in segments elsewhere, then ship them by barge to the project’s site.

The bridge will be a tied arch span, consisting of an overhead arch and deck that resembles a bow being drawn to fire an arrow.

Officials with the Ohio Department of Transportation earlier told BHJ members work on the span’s abutment at the intersection of Third and Clever streets in Brilliant could begin in April.

Suwaid said engineering designs for a major project along state Route 2 in Follansbee are expected to be completed this summer.

It involves replacing the deck of a bridge beneath the intersection of Route 2 and Allegheny Street. Years ago the highway was paved over the bridge, which also functions as a culvert for waters from Allegheny Creek emptying into the Ohio River.

Two years ago two sinkholes formed near the intersection, revealing the bridge has deteriorated. Suwaid said he and others hope the repairs can be done in fall, with two-way traffic maintained by flaggers.

He said the state will advertise in the fall for a contractor to resurface U.S. Route 22 in Weirton but, unfortunately, the work is not expected to be done until next year.

Mark Henne, deputy director of the Weirton Transit Authority and a strong advocate for repairs to the highway, said, “I hate to see it go another winter (without paving).”

Suwaid said state officials are expected to select a scenario for a Route 2 bypass of New Cumberland, pending an environmental impact study, and hold a public meeting in August for comment on their selection.

He noted $11 million has been allocated for the project from the $1.6 billion Roads to Prosperity bond issue approved by voters last year for road projects throughout the state.

Suwaid said a proposal to improve the turning radius of state Routes 27 and 2 in Wellsburg is being studied by state personnel but no funding has been allocated for it yet. Several BHJ members commented on the many potholes found on area roads.

Brooke County Commissioner Jim Andreozzi said their condition is the worst he’s seen in his 60 years as a resident.

“If you follow the pothole trails, they usually go to the gas well sites,” he said.

He added the oil and gas industry “has been great for the local area, but somehow we have to get some of that severance money into the roads in the (gas-) producing counties.”

Suwaid said inclement weather, including flooding this year and last, also has been a major problem.

He said his annual budget includes about $20 million for the maintenance of roads in his six-county district and $25 million was spent to address damages caused by flooding in one weekend this year.

Suwaid said he’s hopeful the state Division of Highways will receive financial aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Wellsburg City Manager Steve Maguschak said he believes local DOH garages are shorthanded.

“They were out there working day and night doing the best they could. I know funding is tight, but they need some help,” he said.

In other business, Toronto Councilman Robert Bertram said in his travels on state Route 7 he’s noticed what he believes to be signs of further erosion along the hillside in the Rush Run area.

Noting a large boulder fell from that area last year, he asked if Ohio Department of Transportation officials have studied the area for further movement.

Adrienne Ward, BHJ’s office manager, expressed the same concern.

No ODOT officials were present this week to comment on the matter, but BHJ Executive Director Mike Paprocki said he would approach them about it.

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

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