Craig Howell CHECK PRESENTATION – Surrounded by area officials, U.S. Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., held a ceremonial check presentation Monday for $1 million he secured toward the engineering costs for the replacement of the Market Street Bridge.

STEUBENVILLE – Area officials gathered near the Market Street Bridge Monday afternoon to celebrate a milestone in the efforts to eventually build a replacement for the 121-year-old span.

“Sorry, but the old girl has found its last place,” Mike Paprocki, executive director of the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission, said in addressing those standing near the visitors center at Historic Fort Steuben.

Those in attendance included U.S. Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., who, through his work on the House Appropriations Committee, was able to secure $1 million to assist with the costs of engineering and design work for a new river crossing.

“This is a really important step to get this moving forward,” Moore said.

The Market Street Bridge was closed to traffic in December 2023 after routine inspections identified continuing deterioration in some of the bridge’s cable anchorages.

According to timelines presented by the West Virginia Department of Transportation, engineering and environmental work should continue through 2027, with the development of contract plans and rights-of-way acquisitions running through 2028, and construction potentially being complete sometime in 2031.

There have been several options presented as part of the process of selecting a location for the new bridge.

The first five would see the construction of a new bridge crossing to connect West Virginia Route 2 between Weirton and Follansbee with a point in Steubenville. Those selected crossing possibilities include Ross Street, Logan Street, Washington Street, Market Street and South Street.

Another option would be not to build any new structure, with officials noting the existing Market Street Bridge would eventually need to be removed because of public safety concerns. The seventh option, rehabilitation of the current Market Street Bridge, is essentially off the table, according to officials, because of its deterioration and failure to meet safety standards.

Close to $90 million in federal funding previously was appropriated toward the project.

Moore promised to keep looking for ways to support the bridge replacement, saying both he and U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., have opportunities to seek funding through the congressional appropriations process.

“We’re going to continue to work,” he said. “We have a pretty good one-two punch.”

Moore also noted support in the effort from U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Ohio, whose district includes Jefferson County.

Officials with the WVDOT and BHJ recently held a pair of public meetings — one in Follansbee and another in Steubenville — where residents were able to learn more about potential options for the bridge replacement and offer their thoughts.

“The comment period is still open,” Paprocki said, noting residents can offer thoughts on the plans until June 22. “We take those comments seriously.”

Project information and a comment sheet can be found online at go.wv.gov/dotcomment, with comments also mailed to West Virginia Department of Transportation, Engineering Division, 1900 Kanawha Blvd., East Building 5, Room 820, Charleston, WV 25305.