Photo by Eric Ayres A new view of the historic Wheeling Suspension Bridge is coming into focus along Main Street as demolition crews from Raze International continue to remove the former Wheeling Inn to make way for the proposed Wheeling Gateway Visitor and Heritage Center. Officials from the West Virginia Division of Highways have said that a review of load analysis data for the bridge will be made at the end of this year, when a final determination will be made on whether or not the rehabilitated bridge will reopen to vehicular traffic.

WHEELING — Most of the work on the $17.9 million rehabilitation project for the historic Wheeling Suspension Bridge has been completed, but a final determination about the future of the bridge has not yet been made.

The West Virginia Department of Transportation’s contractor wrapped up work on the bridge renovation earlier this year. Local officials had been hopeful that the state’s significant investment in the landmark would result in its reopening to vehicular traffic for the first time in years once the rehab was completed.

Early this year, stock dropped in the hopes for a return to past glory after WVDOT Secretary Jimmy Wriston hinted publicly that the days of vehicular traffic on the Suspension Bridge have “probably passed,” although no official announcement had been made by state officials about the bridge’s future.

This fall, however, representatives of the West Virginia Division of Highways indicated that a load-rating analysis of the Suspension Bridge had not yet been completed, despite the fact that the rehabilitation work had pretty much been finished. In fact, a review of load-rating data is not expected to occur until the end of this year.

Speaking on behalf of WVDOH District 6 engineers, Transportation Public Information Specialist Jake Flatley indicated that regardless of the situation regarding load limits on the bridge, the adjacent demolition of the former Wheeling Inn would in itself prohibit the opening of that short section of 10th Street between the Suspension Bridge and Main Street.

In the summer of 2021, the WVDOH and the office of Gov. Jim Justice announced that a contract for the Suspension Bridge rehabilitation on its superstructure and substructure had been awarded to Advantage Steel & Construction LLC for $17,907,147. Work on the 175-year-old structure was originally scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2023, but supply chain issues and some additional unforeseen work reportedly delayed the project.

Crews from Advantage Steel began wrapping up work on the job this past spring around the same time the new lights running up the cables and towers were illuminated for the first time.

“The project is substantially complete, and a final review was held on Aug. 15, however, there is still minor punch list work taking place,” Flatley said. “Additionally, the 10th Street closure will remain due to the adjacent Wheeling Inn demolition project. During the demolition, WVDOH will monitor the bridge.”

In fact, vibration monitoring equipment has been installed on the bridge while crews from Raze International continue the demolition of the former Wheeling Inn at the corner of Main and 10th streets – the site being cleared for the planned Wheeling Gateway Visitors and Heritage Center. The proposed $18 million center has been designed to highlight the city’s historic Suspension Bridge as a landmark and a true gateway to the west.

A new view of the Suspension Bridge has come into focus from Main Street in recent weeks as crews from Raze continue, piece-by-piece, to remove the old hotel that for decades has obstructed the scenic vista of the historic landmark.

Final reviews of load-rating data on the Suspension Bridge are not expected to be made until after the bulk of the demolition work is completed.

“The consultant inspection firm completed the field inspection on June 7, 2024,” Flatley said. “The inspection report was completed and reviewed on Sept. 9, 2024. The consultant is in the process of performing a load rating analysis. All load rating-related updates are anticipated to be provided to the WVDOH by the end of the 2024 calendar year. When completed, the WVDOH will review the load rating analysis.”

Since September of 2019, the Wheeling Suspension Bridge has remained closed to vehicular traffic after an oversized vehicle damaged the span. Structural concerns had led to a number of temporary closures prior to that, as oversized vehicles such as commercial buses had been driven past hanging barriers and load limit signs. Weight limit violations prompted a number of closures and inspections prior to the 2019 closure and the eventual rehabilitation project.

Construction of the Suspension Bridge began in 1847, and the span opened in 1849. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Advantage Steel & Construction reported details of the work it performed on the bridge over the past couple of years. Crews meticulously removed and replaced each of the existing 72 stay cables, 31 backstay cables and 12 sway cables. The team discovered severe corrosion to one of the bridge’s main structural anchorage points, which had to be replaced.

After structural work was completed, the bridge was painted and the new light system was installed. The contractor noted that crews on the rehab took great efforts to make the bridge structurally sound and aesthetically eye-catching while still maintaining the charm of its majestically historic character.