Tag: Wheeling Suspension Bridge

Wheeling Mayor Asking State Officials To Reopen Suspension Bridge

A West Virginia mayor is asking state officials to reopen a suspension bridge.

Officials closed the Wheeling Suspension Bridge indefinitely last month due to vehicles crossing that exceeded the weight limit.

The Intelligencer reports Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott sent a letter to state Transportation Secretary Byrd White last week suggesting that officials use design and enforcement solutions that would allow the historic span to remain open “in a safe and responsible manner.”

Elliott said the closure limits access to Wheeling Island due to the Interstate 70 Bridges Project in Ohio County. He said the city wants to protect the bridge, but also would like to keep it open to at least some traffic.

State officials have said the bridge will be closed until permanent repairs are made.

July 28, 1860: Wheeling Suspension Bridge Reopens to Public

The Wheeling Suspension Bridge over the Ohio River reopened to the public on July 28, 1860. The bridge had originally opened to much fanfare in 1849. At the time, it was the longest clear span in the world and helped usher in an era of great American bridge building.

Most significantly for the northern panhandle, the bridge boosted Wheeling’s economic fortunes. Three major transportation routes converged in Wheeling. In addition to the heavily traveled Ohio River and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the bridge now extended the National Road westward into Ohio.

In 1854—five years after it opened—the bridge’s deck was destroyed in a violent windstorm. Within a few months, one lane was back in service. The bridge was rebuilt and strengthened in time for the 1860 reopening. Its appearance today, except for the deck, substantially dates to the 1860 rebuild.

The Wheeling Suspension Bridge still serves local traffic and has been designated a national landmark by both the National Park Service and the American Society of Civil Engineers. The stunning span attracts local history buffs as well as historians and engineers from around the world.

Wheeling Suspension Bridge Protected: August 31, 1852

On August 31, 1852, a new federal law gave the Wheeling Suspension Bridge special protection as a mail-carrying route. While it may sound humdrum, the law was actually pivotal in ensuring the bridge’s survival.

The Wheeling Suspension Bridge had opened to great fanfare in 1849.With a 1,010-foot main span, it was the longest bridge of its type in the world.

But, while Wheeling celebrated its new landmark, western Pennsylvanians were quietly plotting its destruction.

A group of industrialists from Pittsburgh—a chief rival of Wheeling at the time—filed a proceeding with the U.S. Supreme Court to declare the bridge a public nuisance because it blocked large steamboats from passing—namely ones heading to and from Pittsburgh on the Ohio River.

The Supreme Court sided with the Pennsylvanians—meaning that the bridge would have to come down. The bridge’s owners, though, turned to Congress, which declared the span part of a mail-carrying route, allowing it to survive and forcing steamers to lower their smokestacks when passing through Wheeling.

As a result, the Wheeling Suspension Bridge still stands today and remains one of West Virginia’s great historic landmarks.

Historic Suspension Bridge Open After Inspection

The Wheeling Suspension Bridge has reopened after an inspection crew found no damage to the historic structure.

The West Virginia Division of Highways closed the span last week after an overweight Greyhound bus drove across it. The weight limit on the bridge is 2 tons.

Wheeling Deputy Police Chief Martin Kimballl says the bus driver was lost and got stuck trying to cross the bridge. He says the bus eventually made it across, but sustained roof damage. The driver was cited.

West Virginia Division of Highways officials decided to close the bridge to traffic to assess whether it sustained any structural damage.

Carrie Bly with the Division of Highways announced Tuesday that the bridge wasn’t damaged and it has reopened.

 

Wheeling Bridge Closed After Overweight Bus Drives Over It

The Wheeling Suspension Bridge has been closed after an overweight Greyhound bus drove across it.

Wheeling Deputy Police Chief Martin Kimball tells media outlets that the incident happened around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Kimball says it appears the bus driver was lost and got stuck trying to cross the bridge. He says the bus eventually made it across the bridge, but sustained damage to its roof.

Kimball says the unnamed bus driver was cited for driving an overweight vehicle across the bridge.

West Virginia Division of Highways officials decided to shut down the bridge while they assess whether any structural damage was done.

DOH District 6 Manager Gus Suwaid says it could be closed for a few days.

Greyhound officials say in a statement that the company is investigating the incident.

Accident Closes Historic Wheeling Suspension Bridge

The historic Wheeling Suspension Bridge is closed after being damaged in a traffic accident.

WTRF-TV reports that a pickup truck hit the bridge Tuesday night.

The state’s Wednesday road and bridge closure report says the suspension bridge is shut down until further notice.

Built in 1849, the suspension bridge is a National Historic Landmark. It connects downtown Wheeling to Wheeling Island over the main channel of the Ohio River.

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