SEEKING A NEW LINK — Since the closing of the Market Street Bridge on Dec. 21, 2023, state and local officials have been pursuing a replacement for it. The West Virginia Department of Transportation is expected in the near future to name an engineering consultant for the project, for which $87.5 million in federal funds and more than $52.5 million state funds have been awarded. -- Warren Scott

STEUBENVILLE — West Virginia transportation officials are expected in the not distant future to name an engineering consultant for the proposed replacement of the Market Street Bridge.

Mike Paprocki, executive director of the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission, said he’s learned the selected engineering firm is expected to be involved with preliminary studies for the location and the span’s design.

“The intention is for the consultant to be a part of the whole process, from the planning to the construction,” he said, adding, “It’s a time-saver and a cash-saver.”

Paprocki had noted earlier efforts are being made to expedite the project because federal funds awarded for it must be formally allocated by Sept. 30, 2027, and expended by Sept. 30, 2032.

The new bridge is slated to receive a $87.5 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration, with the West Virginia Department of Transportation committing $52.5 million from the state’s unused allotment of federal transportation funds to the required local match.

Paprocki confirmed the state has allocated additional money for the engineering study, though the amount is unclear.

“These dollars will be outside of the scope of the match for the federal program,” he said.

Reflecting on the state’s local match and funding for the study, Brooke County Commissioner A.J. Thomas said, “It’s nice to see they (WVDOT officials) really have skin in the game.”

Thomas and other local officials joined Paprocki for a videoconference on Friday with state Secretary of Transportation Jimmy Wriston.

“I will say I left that meeting optimistic,” said Thomas, though he added there will be hurdles to building a new bridge.

He said earlier the new span must be able to accommodate all traffic, and there are concerns about large trucks being able to turn from a new span at Market Street onto downtown Steubenville streets.

Some have suggested building a replacement bridge at Washington Street, not far north of the current span.

Asked about the future location, Paprocki said, “That will have to be fleshed out in the study.”

The 119-year-old bridge has been closed since December 21, 2023, when inspectors discovered severe deterioration of support cables.

Since then, BHJ has launched its own study to determine the impact of the bridge’s closing while analyzing the placement of traffic signals downtown.

Paprocki said staff members of Strand Associates of Columbus have been performing traffic counts as part of the study, which includes 13 intersections along Third, Fourth, Seventh, Adams and North streets and in the area of Logan Street.

He said the study will consider traffic volumes, use by public transportation, bicyclists and pedestrians; safety issues and other factors.

It was funded with a $136,360 grant secured by BHJ and funds awarded by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Paprocki said he expects conclusions from the study to be released in the next six weeks.