POPULAR CHOICE — The Wellsburg Bridge has received the People’s Choice Award among 12 major transportation projects nominated for a contest held by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — Votes have been tabulated for a contest determining the most popular of 12 major transportation projects across the U.S., and the Wellsburg Bridge is one of the two winners.

The span has been named the recipient of the People’s Choice Award after receiving the most votes in the America’s Transportation Awards contest held by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Tuesday was the last of 50 days in which anyone could cast votes in the online contest, which also was sponsored by AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“We are ecstatic to hear our new bridge won this national award. Though we can’t take credit by any means, we are reaping its benefits with many new businesses opening in our community and many new customers coming to existing ones,” said Dan Otto, president of the Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce.

The West Virginia Department of Transportation announced it also received two other awards: The President’s Award, which was presented to Deputy Commissioner of Highways Rita Pauley, and the Vanguard Award, which went to Bennett Murphy, a transportation engineer with the state agency.

Jimmy Wriston, state Secretary of Transportation, said, “I couldn’t be more proud of our WVDOT and the work they’ve put in. This just shows West Virginia values in action.”

Receiving the contest’s Grand Prize, determined by a panel of industry experts, was PennDOT’s Interstate Route 95/Cottman Avenue emergency response, which swiftly addressed a fire caused by a fuel tanker crash that closed a key interstate north-south highway connection on June 11, 2023.

PennDOT installed a $4.5 million temporary roadway and wall, allowing the highway to be reopened in 12 days.

For each of the two winners, a $10,000 donation will be made to a charity of the respective transportation agency’s choice.

The two were among projects in 12 states that had advanced to the national competition after taking top spots in four regional competitions following 106 nominations from 39 states.

Jim Tymon, executive director of AASHTO, said, “We are incredibly proud of the two winning projects, which demonstrate how both states respond to the residents’ needs, whether through emergency repairs or reconnecting communities.”

It’s not the first honor for the Wellsburg Bridge, which links the communities of Wellsburg, Beech Bottom and Brilliant and reduces travel time for drivers on West Virginia Route 2 and Ohio Route 7.

Earlier this year, the American Council of Engineering Companies presented its Diamond Award to WVDOT and COWI, the New York engineering consultant that designed the 1,800-foot span.

Wriston noted COWI and Flatiron Construction of Broomfield, Colo., general contractor for the bridge, made the decision to build its 830-foot main span on the shore of the Ohio River, in a construction yard near the Brooke County Pioneer Trail and Wellsburg’s south end.

From there, it was floated down the river on April 21, 2021, and the 4,100-ton segment was lifted, using hydraulic jacks, onto piers standing about 80 feet above.

The maneuver was witnessed by many people on both sides of the river, including spectators at the Wellsburg Wharf and Brilliant area residents who gathered near its future abutment at Third and Cleaver streets.

The cost of the $131 million project was divided 65 percent and 35 percent by the West Virginia and Ohio departments of transportation, respectively, with federal dollars awarded to the two states also contributing to its expense.

Completed last September, the project was named a priority by the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission.

It followed a study that saw the bridge as a catalyst for economic development and an alternate route in the event of rockslides that have plagued areas on both sides of the river not far from its designated location.

Otto said he and others with the chamber were honored to be a part of the span’s grand opening festivities on Sept. 20, 2023.

“We were able to work with numerous state and local organizations from both sides of the river and establish relationships we never had before, relationships that continue to benefit our local community to this day,” he said, adding, “We are proud of our Wellsburg Bridge.”