POPULAR CHOICE — The Wellsburg Bridge received the People’s Choice Award among 12 major transportation projects nominated for a competition hosted by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. –Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — Votes are in for a contest to determine the most popular among 12 major transportation projects across the United States, and the Wellsburg Bridge is one of two winning projects.

Span was named the winner of the People’s Choice Award after receiving the most votes in the America’s Transportation Awards competition hosted by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Tuesday was the last of 50 days in which anyone could vote in the online contest, which was also sponsored by AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“We are delighted to hear that our new bridge has won this national award. “Even though we are not able to get any loans, we are seeing the benefits as many new businesses are opening in our community and many new customers are coming to our existing customers,” he said. said Dan Otto, president of the Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce.

The West Virginia Department of Transportation announced it has received two more awards: the President’s Award, given to Deputy Commissioner of Highways Rita Pauley, and the Trailblazer Award, given to Bennett Murphy, a transportation engineer for the state agency.

State Transport Minister Jimmy Bilekon said: “I couldn’t be more proud of our WVDOT and the work they put in. This shows West Virginia values ​​in action.”

The Grand Prize for the competition, determined by a panel of industry experts, was PennDOT’s Interstate Route 95/Cottman Avenue emergency response, which quickly responded to a fire caused by a fuel tanker crash that closed a major north-south interstate highway connection on June 11. 2023.

PennDOT constructed a $4.5 million temporary road and wall that allowed the highway to reopen within 12 days.

Each winner will receive a $10,000 donation to a charity of the respective transportation agency’s choice.

These two projects were among projects in 12 states that advanced to the national competition after placing first in four regional competitions, following 106 candidates from 39 states.

Jim Tymon, executive director of AASHTO, said: “We are incredibly proud of the two winning projects that demonstrate how both states are responding to the needs of residents, whether through emergency repairs or reconnecting communities.”

This isn’t the first honor the Wellsburg Bridge, which connects Wellsburg, Beech Bottom and Brilliant counties and reduces travel time for drivers on West Virginia Route 2 and Ohio Route 7, has received.

Earlier this year, the American Council of Engineering Companies presented its Diamond Award to WVDOT and COWI, the New York engineering consultants who designed the 1,800-foot span.

COWI and Flatiron Construction of Broomfield, Colo., the bridge’s general contractor, decided to build the 830-foot main span along the Ohio River at a construction site south of the Brooke County Pioneer Trail and Wellsburg, Bilekon said. last.

From there, it was floated on the river on April 21, 2021, and the 4,100-ton section was lifted using hydraulic jacks onto piers standing approximately 25 meters high.

The maneuver was witnessed by many on both sides of the river, including spectators at the Wellsburg Wharf and Brilliant area residents who gathered near its future dock at Third and Cleaver streets.

The cost of the $131 million project was split 65 percent and 35 percent between the West Virginia and Ohio transportation departments, respectively, and federal dollars given to the two states also contributed to the expenses.

The project, completed last September, was named a priority by the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission.

It followed a study that viewed the bridge as a catalyst for economic development and an alternative route in the event of rockslides affecting areas on both sides of the river not far from the designated location.

Otto said he and others in the room were honored to be a part of the facility’s grand opening celebration on Sept. 20, 2023.

“We were able to work with numerous state and local organizations from both sides of the river and build relationships we had never built before that continue to benefit our local community to this day.” he said and added: “We are proud of our Wellsburg Bridge.”