MEDIA ADVISORY: Gov. Patrick Morrisey, Transportation Secretary Stephen Todd Rumbaugh meet with USDOT’s Shaz Umer to celebrate technology grant

Gov. Patrick Morrisey and state Transportation Secretary Stephen Todd Rumbaugh will meet with Shaz Umer, Director of Strategic Initiatives for the U.S. Department of Transportation, to celebrate an $820,000 federal grant to install sophisticated Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) equipment on the East Huntington Bridge in Huntington. The event will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the Guyandotte Fishing and Boating Access site near the bridge.
 
WHO: USDOT Director of Strategic Initiatives Shaz Umer, Gov. Patrick Morrisey, and state Transportation Secretary Stephen Todd Rumbaugh.
 
WHAT: Celebration of the West Virginia Department of Transportation receiving a grant through the SMART (Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation) Grant Program to install an SHM system of sensors that deliver real-time insights to guide maintenance and extend bridge life.
 
WHEN: 10 a.m. Thursday, August 7, 2025.
 
WHERE: Guyandotte Fishing and Boating Access site, Third Street, Huntington, WV 25702.
 
Conventional bridge inspections occur every two years, offering only a snapshot in time. SHM systems provide continuous, real-time monitoring, enabling engineers to detect issues earlier and respond faster, especially during emergencies like barge impacts, where data can determine if closures are necessary and reduce disruptions. West Virginia is the only state funded through a Stage 1 SMART grant for SHM transportation infrastructure project, setting the national standard for these technologies.​