STEUBENVILLE — The leader of the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission said funds for a replacement for the Market Street Bridge must be expended by 2032 under the conditions of a $87.5 million federal grant awarded for the project.
On Wednesday, BHJ Executive Director Mike Paprocki told the commission’s executive board the West Virginia Department of Transportation has committed $52.5 million from the state’s usual allotment of federal transportation funds and $35 million of its funds to meet the 100 percent match required of the grant.
Paprocki said money from the federal grant, awarded through the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Investment Program, must be allocated for the project by Sept. 30, 2027, and expended by Sept. 30, 2032.
He said the allocation is pending the federal agency’s review and approval of a location and environmental impact study for the project, which could take 12 to 18 months.
Paprocki said WVDOT has advertised for a consultant to perform the study, for which it has allocated $1.8 million.
“To me, this is a good faith action on the part of West Virginia DOT,” said Paprocki.
Planning for the Wellsburg Bridge, which opened on Sept. 20, 2023, took several years, including three years for the environmental impact study.
Paprocki predicted more funding will be needed for the next bridge study but said it should not be as extensive as the one required for the Wellsburg Bridge, for which several potential sites were considered.
He said alternative locations may be considered for the Market Street Bridge’s replacement, but he doesn’t expect them to be far north or south of the present span.
“Washington Street may be one, but we don’t know at this time,” said Paprocki, noting a Steubenville location that had been mulled during initial planning that led to the Wellsburg Bridge.
He noted during initial planning for that span, it was seen as a replacement for the aging Market Street Bridge.
Now 119 years old, the Market Street Bridge was closed on Dec. 21 after inspectors discovered substantial deterioration to support cables.
But Paprocki said the idea of the Wellsburg Bridge being a replacement for Market Street was dropped as planning proceeded, with one West Virginia Division of Highways official saying the two bridges would be “divorced” moving forward.
Asked if demolition of the Market Street Bridge is expected to be included in the project, he said, “Absolutely. It (the new bridge) could go exactly where the Market Street Bridge is.”
Paprocki said state Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Wellsburg, arranged a meeting between representatives of BHJ and WVDOT at which the state highway officials asked for the engineering study for the new bridge to be added to BHJ’s transportation improvement plan.
Transportation projects in the three counties must be included in the plan for them to be eligible for federal funding.
On Wednesday, Paprocki told commission members from both sides of the Ohio River, “Our part of this process is to get this amendment (to the plan) through so we can get started,” he said before the panel voted to support its inclusion.
Jefferson County Engineer Jim Branagan asked if the Ohio Department of Transportation is involved in the project.
“Not at this point,” replied Paprocki.
But he added that BHJ has initiated a traffic study that will measure the impact of the Market Street Bridge’s closing while analyzing the placement of traffic signals in downtown Steubenville.
Paprocki said staff with 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 ODOT.
Also on Wednesday, the commission heard from Brady Vannest of the West Virginia Department of Transportation’s planning division, who said crews will be installing new LED bulbs to street lights near the Weirton exits of U.S. Route 22.
David Cline, a member of the Panhandle Trail committee, said new lighting near the Harmon Creek exit also will cast more light on the parking area for the recreational trail.
