The Ohio Valley suspension bridge opened to a fascinating structural history that expands from 1836 to now. Initially, a wooden bridge was put in place on the west side of the Ohio River, but unfortunately, it was destroyed by windstorms. However, in the 1870s, the bridge was reinforced with cables designed by the renowned Washington Roebling. 

The bridge has an extraordinarily impressive distance of 1,010 feet. The east tower is above a low water level of 153.5 feet and the west tower is above a low water level of 132.75 feet along with a bold weight limit of 2 tons. Architectural expert Dr. Emory Kemp was responsible for the structure’s standout design and amazing details. 

As many decades passed, people just stood in  amazement at this beautiful structure and it has become not just a big part of the city of Wheeling’s history but most importantly the Ohio Valley’s history. In the year 1975, the Wheeling Suspension Bridge marked its destiny and earned its label as a national historical landmark. In the years to come the citizens of Wheeling did not foresee the horrible events that would take place throughout the Wheeling Suspension Bridge’s History. 

On Feb. 17, 2011, the bridge was temporarily closed for four to five days following a high-speed collision that resulted in damage to the sidewalk paneling. On March 2, 2013, a snapped cable caused the closure of the Wheeling Suspension Bridge until possible repairs could be completed. A few years later, on March 23, 2016, a greyhound caused tremendous damage to the bridge, resulting in a definite closure, and putting the height and weight limit regulations on the bridge to put a stop to buses or any heavy-weighted vehicles traveling across the bridge.

 After all of this, earlier in the year of 2019 a tour bus went across this massive structure that exceeded the weight limit and got stuck under the barrier of the suspension bridge and was closed for six weeks. Still, people kept ignoring the laws and regulations that had been applied to the bridge which caused the bridge to be closed to any vehicles driving on the suspension bridge but is still open to pedestrians and bicyclists. 

The Wheeling Suspension Bridge has many mysteries around this historical structure and its current condition is creating a lot of questions from the local people around the Ohio Valley. As to whether this piece of history will be usable for vehicles ever again. There are also questions and concerns about past accidents and violations of laws by people who used the bridge. 

Although in 2020, Mayor Glenn Elliot requested the bridge to be reopened for vehicles, the West Virginia Division of Highways unfortunately denied the request. It is unsure that the bridge will be open to vehicles in the future, but it is not impossible. Two years later the construction company Advantage Steel & Construction was awarded $17,907,147 to repair the bridge’s superstructure and substructure including replacing damaged suspension cables, renovating lighting, and repainting the spans of the bridge. 

They aimed to keep the history of this structure alive, be a symbol of hope, and motivate the citizens to look forward to the city of Wheeling’s future. The possibility of car travel on the Wheeling Suspension Bridge is unknown but the citizens of Wheeling are looking to be optimistic and open to every opportunity that comes their way soon.