WHEELING, W.Va. (Aug. 11, 2026) — The Wheeling-Ohio County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) has signed the construction contract for Base Bids 1 and 2 of the Wheeling Gateway Center, marking a major step to lock in pricing to begin construction mobilization.
Public bids were unsealed on April 16 earlier this year, and STONEMILE Group was selected as the qualified, lowest bidder. Construction contract negotiations began on May 11 and have been finalized at the publicly unsealed value of $15.8 million.
“We’re proud to be partnering with numerous local companies that will perform a large majority of the scope of work on this project utilizing local tradesmen,” said Greg Kittridge, President of STONEMILE Group, LLC.
Kittridge continued, “Recognizing the importance of engaging local skilled craftsmen is essential to the community. STONEMILE is committed to all stakeholders on the project, as well as the whole Ohio Valley community in making this effort the company’s top priority. We are very excited about the opportunity and look forward to being a part of an amazing project that all generations can look forward to for many years to come.”
The construction schedule for this scope is expected to run 16 months with work beginning along the waterfront and trail connector, then continuing up the base of the hillside. The technical teams will work closely with the State of West Virginia’s structural engineers to coordinate around the footprint of the historic Suspension Bridge.
These two bid packages deliver what the community has consistently named as the top priority: a new trail connector linking the historic Wheeling Suspension Bridge to the Wheeling Heritage Trail. This will also include hillside and site stabilization required to support the building, as well as the full core and shell of the Gateway Center. When this phase is complete, the building will stand fully enclosed on the site.
“The Suspension Bridge is part of who we are. It was the original Gateway to the West, and people here have wanted to reconnect it to the river and the trail for a long time. Signing this contract means that connection is finally going to get built, and we’re going to have a real, enclosed visitors and heritage center standing there. That matters to a lot of us,” said Frank O’Brien, Executive Director of the Wheeling CVB.
The timing also builds on the recent announcement of a new hotel coming to downtown Wheeling on 14th Street. The Gateway Center is designed to complement that investment by giving visitors a clear starting point — a place to learn about the area, connect to the trail and river, and then explore the rest of downtown, including the new hotel.
“We’re genuinely excited about the new hotel,” O’Brien said. “Having a quality place for people to stay right in the heart of downtown, paired with a top-notch Wheeling experience, is something this community has needed. We believe the hotel and the center will work together to bring more visitors, encourage them to stay longer, and help create the kind of steady, year-round activity that supports full occupancy and a stronger downtown.”
Scott Schenerlein, Executive Director of Wheeling Heritage, added: “Getting the trail connector and the building enclosure under contract is a big step, but the work isn’t finished. We’re continuing to raise funds for the heritage experience that will go inside — the part that will tell Wheeling’s story in a meaningful way. We’ll have more to share about that experience after the groundbreaking, and this historic moment marks the collective renewed commitment to seeing this once-in-a-generation project through completion.”
“There’s still more work ahead to finish the full project, but today we can say the most important first piece is under contract, and that is real progress for our community,” O’Brien said.
An official groundbreaking ceremony will be announced at a later date.
More information is available at https://wheelinggateway.tippingpointdev.com.
