It’s already been nearly six years since we’ve had vehicular access to the Wheeling Suspension because, back in June 2019, a tour bus driver thought it was a good idea to drive a 25,000-pound motorcoach over a 170-year-old historical with a 4,000-pound weight limit.
The state closed it, construction crews reattached its northeast anchor before the suspended parts plummeted to the bottom of the Ohio River (for a second time), and they painted it pretty and added a dynamic lighting system that’s won rave reviews.
That was the second time a big bus shook and shuttered the Suspension Bridge. Back in March 2016, a Greyhound bus made it across to downtown’s Main Street after striking the height barrier while the driver was attempting a getaway. The motorcoach, though, was pulled over by police along eastbound Interstate 70 near the Washington Avenue exit, and the driver was issued a few citations.
Both drivers blamed their GPS system. Never mind the signage, the barriers, or its obvious age, the technology told them to do it … so they did it.
And Jamie Porta Frey has heard and seen enough, and she’s done the unthinkable. Jamie let the whole world know her feelings on the subject recently in a Facebook post.
“I feel that people in this valley need to come to terms with the fact that the Suspension Bridge will likely never be reopened to vehicular traffic …”
I saw her post and asked, “What makes you feel that so much to make such an announcement?”
Jamie replied: “I feel it’s ‘not likely’ based off of the amount of money that has been spent, the fact the city of Wheeling has been silent, and the fact that folks in the valley are ignoring the weight limit … I feel that it is a very sound move to make.
“I am behind whatever decision that they do make, (but) I feel like it is (a) sound engineering move on their part; I feel like they already have made their decision; and I feel I am behind them from an infrastructure standpoint.”
Brave, and that’s because so many people have remained insistent that today’s demand is far more important than preserving the history that dates back to days before the automobile.
“Great reply!” is what I wrote back to her, and that’s because I agree with Jamie, on all counts, including the one about closing the Wheeling Suspension Bridge to vehicular traffic for good.
She added: “I might sound like the token a$$hole, but I want the bridge to remain for a gorgeous backdrop for our city, and reopening (it) to vehicular traffic (would) be a nightmare.”
She’s right. Again. And she’ll reiterate her feelings this afternoon at 4 p.m. on River Talk 100.1 & 100.9 FM.
As I’ve written before, I would appreciate immediate efforts – in the name of safety – to construct a new span attaching the West Virginia mainland to Wheeling Island, but now is the time to officially preserve the original “Gateway to the West” and allow it to become a part of the Heritage/Welcome Center on the corner of Main and 10th streets.
Ward 2 Council member Ben Seidler has done his duty by repeatedly pleading for a reopening, and former mayor Glenn Elliott offered state officials several solid options to protect it – if reopened – against selfishness, and all of efforts have been met with either silence or rejection.
So, there’s writing on the wall and it spells, “Closed for Good!” even if state officials are scaredy cats to deliver the final blow, but if and when they do, let’s hope state officials make the east and west ramps far more attractive than they are today, and that the design phase for a new span begins immediately.
Now, if the plan is to reopen the bridge, then the message changes to, “Poop or get off the pot.”
They need to fix the bridge. Make the bus company pay for most of destruction since the bus driver apparently can’t read. Make the bridge exactly the way it’s been for years but, add low barriers so only cars can drive over the bridge. We love our suspension bridge so why should we be without it because bus drivers do not know how to read and now twice have ruined our suspension bridge. They should be held accountable to help repair the bridge to its full potential and put it back to where we needed to be and reopen it.
It would be fine for pedestrians including cyclists. I think it should be permanently closed to vehicular traffic because most people drive SUVs and a high number of those vehicles exceed the weight limit. People usually aren’t aware of what their vehicle weighs and a lot wouldn’t believe their SUV weighs as much as it does. Lastly, a good many people don’t respect the distance rule on the bridge. It’s only a matter of time until disaster strikes if the bridge is opened to regular traffic.
I wonder if a new bridge could be built where the old Steel Bridge was located? It went from Ohio Street on the Island to an area beside the Hawley building. It was torn down two years after I was born but I’ve seen many pictures. Just a thought.