Photo Provided Bridgeport Exempted Village School District Superintendent Brent Ripley, second from left, with board of education members Kori Rosnick, left, and Patrick McConnaughy, right, talks with project manager Ivan Vukevitch of the SHP interdisciplinary design group and senior project manager Andy Lowther of Beaver Construction following groundbreaking on a state-funded multipurpose facility that promises to benefit Bridgeport and the surrounding communities. Additional parking spaces are in the works to meet the rising enrollment and increase in traffic as the district becomes a hub of education, training, health care and community events.

BRIDGEPORT — Bridgeport Exempted Village School District Superintendent Brent Ripley and school board members anticipate a much busier campus once school kicks off in fall.

Since the late May groundbreaking ceremony for the state-funded multipurpose facility to be dubbed “the Bridge,” the parking lot has been gated off due to the number of trucks and heavy machinery in front of the elementary school portion of the building, and officials are looking to the start of the school year.

Ripley commented on the work.

“We are right where we need to be. We don’t have students right now, so we’re trying to get as much site work done as possible so when school starts our parents can use the high school/middle school entrance to drop off their kids. The roadway will be open, parking will be here, and the construction portion will be gated off.”

He said it will be a bright new day in Bridgeport when the Bridge is completed in 2026. The district has been meticulous in laying a firm foundation before turning the first shovel of earth. Since announcing state funding to the tune of $14 million to build a 28,500-square-foot addition on the district campus to serve health, education and community needs for the surrounding area, they have held months of planning sessions and three public meetings to hear from community members and stakeholders who will offer their services through the Bridge.

Construction through the 2025-26 school year and increased traffic afterward was on the table when they reviewed progress with project manager Ivan Vukevitch of the SHP interdisciplinary design group and senior project manager Andy Lowther of Beaver Construction.

Parking led the discussion. Ripley pointed out going with angled slots would give the campus 36 additional spaces, but right-angle parking could create 50 more parking spaces.

“We’re just looking at a way to get the most parking available we can with the property we own,” he said. “We want to create as little disruption as possible in the lives of everybody who’s dropping off students during school hours or who’s coming here for events.”

Ripley said they will also meet the needs of increased enrollment.

“We’re up 38 students next year in enrollment. That number’s going to continue to grow for our district. That’s another reason we’re looking at expanding the parking. We want the families when they pull in here to drop their kids off, or if they’re coming for an event, to have adequate parking on site for all those activities.”

The lot will be ready for use by August when school reopens.

“By the beginning of school, we want to have that additional parking in place for parents. The expanded parking spaces may be gravel to start off, but we will pave those spaces prior to our grand opening of the Bridge.”

Talk also turned to the placement of signs for the many visitors who will be using the Bridge once it is completed.

“So that people know exactly where to go,” Ripley said. “So they pull in at Bridgeport school district. Where do they go if they want to go into the district office or rotary shelter or softball field or the new playground? Where do they park?”

This includes exterior signage to mark the health care clinic areas and day care. WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital will open a clinic on site. The Medicaid funded OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence), which connects young people who have behavioral and multisystem needs with the resources that will most benefit them, will also make use of the Bridge. The addition will house a fitness center designated “the Dog Pound.” Along with hands-on learning labs and expanding College Credit Plus program, the site will also offer options for workforce training. The Bridge will be ideally placed for community events.

With this increased activity, the district is prioritizing security.

Ripley added infrastructure to support the Bridge is also being put in place, from sanitary sewer to electrical and gas hookups and site elevation.

“They’ve been moving very quickly here, and we’ve had very few surprises come up during this first phase of construction,” he said. “Things are flowing so smoothly for us right now. We’re very grateful for that. Beaver’s been doing a great job, SHP has as well. Despite the weather, we are on track and moving forward in gratefulness. To receive this grant has been a huge blessing for our district, students and community. Our focus is on bringing an educational system that supports the whole student and adult, mind, body and soul.”