Photo by SCOTT MCCLOSKeY The Aetnaville Bridge, built in 1891, was closed to vehicle traffic in 1988 and finally to pedestrian and bicycle traffic in 2016.

WHEELING — Preservation-minded locals and more came to Wheeling seeking to advocate the future of the Aetnaville Bridge, but engineers say it’s time for the bridge to sleep with the fishes.

Several visitors met Thursday with engineers and state representatives for the informational workshop and public meeting, which was held at Independence Hall, the first in a string of steps required to demolish the aging bridge. The Aetnaville Bridge, built in 1891, was closed to vehicle traffic in 1988 and finally to pedestrian and bicycle traffic in 2016, when routine inspection found “imminent” failure conditions, with numerous supports rusted through and structurally unsafe. The bridge spans the Ohio River between the northern tip of Wheeling Island and Ohio 7 near southern Martins Ferry.

Kelli Shapiro, with the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, said Wheeling has a good track record of preserving its historical structures, and hoped to change minds on the demolition decision.

“The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, serves as a historic connection between the states, and other parts of the country have made these pedestrian bridges a popular part of trails and such,” Shapiro said. “There’s one in Marietta, near Parkersburg, one near Richmond, and they’ve proven to be valuable community assets. … Wheeling does such a wonderful job with historical preservation in other parts of Wheeling, we’d like to see that continue here.

“We hope there’s an arrangement where the bridge could be transferred to another authority,” she added. “There is a lot of funding available for these sites, tax credits for renovation, grants from the state Historic Preservation Office, there are ways we could save this bridge as an asset for the community.”

Local resident Justin Guglielmotti said having the bridge remain open to foot traffic would give Wheeling Island residents quicker access to Martins Ferry and its stores.

“Having it still be there would be a better option, so people on the north end (of Wheeling Island) have another option to get to Martins Ferry. It’d be a lot faster than going around, getting stuck in traffic, and hit by cars,” he said.

However, Dirar Ahmad, head of the West Virginia Division of Highways engineering division consultant review section, said the bridge is long past its useful life as a causeway and now poses a risk to the area, environment and those nearby.

“The bridge is in very, very poor condition, and is in danger of failing,” he said. “If anything happens to (the supports) there’s no backup mechanism to support it. That’s why we made the decision for the safety and welfare of the public to close the bridge to pedestrian traffic. … It doesn’t mean the day after the inspection, the bridge is going to fall in the river, we just don’t like to take chances. We feel very strongly that it’s time to demolish.”

Ahmad said the DOH has been working since the closure to foot traffic to demolish the bridge, but the process of doing so takes years, as the bridge is a historical landmark. However, despite its designation as such, keeping the bridge up, but closed, is a safety hazard, and that restoring it would be difficult.

“Our plan is to demolish it,” he said. “We’re very sensitive to the needs of the community, and the individuals and entities that say, ‘Can the bridge be saved?’ Frankly, at this point, there’s not much to salvage. It would cost millions of taxpayer’s dollars, and you can only get so many more years. Like when I get old, there’s only so much that care can prolong my life.

“This bridge has done well to serve its community, but from a safety point of view, an engineering point of view, and an economic point of view, … the best thing for the public is to demolish it.”

The public has 30 days to comment on the project. Ahmad expects the project to receive environmental approval for demolition by November of this year, a demolition contract to be awarded by summer 2020, and construction to be completed by year’s end,

Public comment may be made to: Mr. R.J. Scites, PE., Director, Engineering Division. West Virginia Department of Highways, 1334 Smith Street, Charleston, WV 25301.