A ROUTE BY ANY OTHER NAME — While a ribbon-cutting will be held for the new Ohio River bridge on Wednesday, the span won’t be named until the West Virginia Legislature reconvenes in January. Several names are under consideration, said state Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, who earlier suggested suggestions from the public. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — While the new span across the Ohio River will be welcomed at noon Wednesday, it will be at least a few months before area residents will be able to call it by its official name.

That’s because the name will be decided through a vote by the West Virginia Legislature, though many residents have had some input into it.

State Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, said the bridge’s name will be determined through a resolution adopted by the state legislature, which reconvenes in January.

To prepare for such legislation, Weld solicited suggestions through local and social media last year.

To date, it’s been referred to most frequently as the Wellsburg Bridge, the name officials with the West Virginia Department of Transportation called it when they advertised the $131 million project in 2015.

But Weld said there are other contenders.

They include:

• The Pioneer Bridge, suggested by former Brooke County Commissioner Tim Ennis. Ennis said the name is appropriate not only because a bicycle lane on the 60-foot-wide span will link to the Brooke County Pioneer Trail just below it, work that’s expected to be completed in November.

He noted the bridge also is unique in that its 4,100-ton main span was transported by barges from an area below the Wellsburg Smith Oil gas station, where it was built, and down river to Brilliant, where it was lifted by hydraulic jacks onto its piers from 80 feet below.

• The Black Bear Bridge, which alludes to the West Virginia state animal and was inspired by reports a black bear was seen swimming in the river during the main span’s transport on April 26, 2021.

• The Cardinal Bridge, which alludes to the state bird as well as the Cardinal Power Plant. Located near the bridge in Brilliant, the plant received its name because the red bird also is Ohio’s state bird.

It’s said that some Brooke County residents employed by the plant once took a shortcut to their workplace by rowing a boat across the river.

• The Wellsburg Century Plant because it’s said talk of an Ohio River link between the city and southern Jefferson County can be traced as long ago as the mid-1920s.

Weld said while doing research for a book on Wellsburg’s history, he learned that in 1929, city officials signed a contract for a toll bridge to be built from the intersection of 11th and Main streets.

Officials in Beech Bottom, located just south of the span, have lobbied with others for the Purple Heart Bridge, noting state Route 2 has been named a Purple Heart Memorial Trail in honor of all Americans who were wounded or killed while serving in the military.

Weld said he’s concerned the name would create confusion because the span connecting Wheeling Island and Bridgeport is named the Military Order of the Purple Heart Bridge.

While area residents will have to wait a while to learn the name of the new Ohio River bridge, they will be able to get a closer look at it on Wednesday.

The Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce, with the cooperation of Brooke County Schools and the Weirton Transit Authority, has arranged for shuttles there for the ribbon cutting and other festivities from the city and Wellsburg.

Brooke Hills Park also has supplied golf carts to transport elderly and handicapped visitors on the span.

Chamber President Dan Otto said anyone who would like to be among the first to run or walk across the 1,800-foot bridge is encouraged to be there at 8 a.m.

Also planned are a classic car show on the span beginning at 10:30 a.m., performances by the marching bands of Brooke and Buckeye Local high schools at 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. , respectively; the ribbon cutting involving Gov. Jim Justice and other officials; music by local bands in the afternoon and concluding with a short parade starting at 6 p.m. from the bridge’s approach at Third Street in Brilliant.

The span is slated to open for traffic on Thursday, when drivers will be able to approach it from new turn lanes created on Third Street and West Virginia Route 2 just south of Wellsburg.

Asked if he plans to attend the bridge’s opening, Weld said, “I wouldn’t miss it. I’m a Wellsburg guy and this is a big deal.”