The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) concluded two public information meetings this week regarding the future of the Market Street Bridge, drawing strong public interest and community engagement from residents on both sides of the Ohio River.
The bridge was built in 1905 to connect the communities of Follansbee, West Virginia, and Steubenville, Ohio.
The first meeting was held Monday, May 18, 2026, at the Follansbee Community House in Follansbee. The event saw a strong turnout from local residents, business owners, and community stakeholders interested in learning more about the proposed improvements and long-term future of the bridge corridor. Attendees had the opportunity to review project displays, speak directly with engineers and transportation officials, and provide comments and feedback regarding the project.
The second public meeting was held Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at the BHJ-MPC office in Steubenville. Community members from the Ohio side of the river attended to review the same project information and engage with project representatives. The meeting continued the collaborative regional effort between West Virginia and Ohio transportation and planning partners.
Public input gathered during the meetings will help guide the ongoing planning and development process as the project moves forward.
Both meetings focused on proposed design concepts, traffic considerations, infrastructure needs, and opportunities to improve connectivity and safety for motorists and pedestrians utilizing the bridge. Representatives from WVDOH and partnering agencies were available at both events to answer questions and collect public comments.
The bridge was closed on Thursday, December 21, 2023, after an inspection showed extensive deterioration in suspension cables inside the cable anchorages supporting the bridge.
In July 2024, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., secured $87.5 million in federal funding to go toward replacing the bridge. Additional funding would be required to complete the project.
WVDOH engineers are considering five options to replace the 121-year-old bridge. Rehabilitation of the span is no longer an option due to the advanced deterioration.
A new span could be built on the site of the existing bridge, or a new bridge could be built to cross the Ohio River from Steubenville at Ross Street, Logan Street, Washington Street, or South Street.
A final option is to tear down the existing span and not replace it.
