Local News

Commissioners push Brown’s Island as potential Market Street Bridge solution

NEW CUMBERLAND -- While not currently on the list of possible options for a replacement of the Market Street Bridge, Hancock County commissioners are hoping highway officials may consider a route that would cross Brown's Island.

The Hancock County Commission, during its meeting Thursday afternoon, unanimously approved a resolution in support of the proposal, which has been forwarded to the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission.

"There's been a lot of discussion since the Market Street Bridge shut down," noted Commission President Eron Chek, saying the commission feels the use of Brown's Island could be complementary to various ongoing initiatives for the redevelopment of former steel-making property in Weirton.

A set of public hearings were held in May, providing area residents an opportunity to voice their thoughts on the potential replacement of the bridge, which was closed in December 2023 as a result of continuing deterioration in its support structures.

Among the options presented during those meetings was building a new span at the current Market Street location or in the areas of Ross Street, Logan Street, Washington Street and South Street in Steubenville, crossing the Ohio River to connect to an area of West Virginia Route 2 between Weirton and Follansbee.

Another option would be to not build a replacement span at all.

In their letter sent to the BHJ, Hancock County commissioners cite state and federal funds received by the City of Weirton "to design and construct critical infrastructure that will support industrial development opportunities," referencing a long-planned industrial access road designed to provide an alternate route for industrial traffic to access areas in the north end of the city.

"The Hancock County Commission strongly supports Brown's Island as the preferred location for the replacement of the Market Street Bridge," the letter notes. "The current bridge replacement initiative and the infrastructure improvements being advanced by the City of Weirton are highly complementary projects that share common economic development and transportation objectives."

"The Commission believes that strategically connecting these efforts would significantly enhance the effectiveness and long-term value of both projects. By aligning transportation infrastructure with planned industrial development, the region can maximize public investment, improve connectivity and create a stronger foundation for future economic growth. The combined impact of these projects has the potential to be far greater than the sum of their individual benefits, generating substantial advantages for the broader region."

Commissioner Paul Cowey explained the commission feels an existing bridge crossing west onto Brown's Island could be built upon, with a need then to establish a stable crossing from Brown's Island to Ohio Route 7.

The proposal would rely on the completion of the proposed industrial access road.

"We don't have to worry about taking anyone's property," Cowey said.

Brown's Island was part of approximately 1,100 acres of former steel-making property purchased in 2017 by the Frontier Group of Companies to be included in its Frontier Crossing development project.

Transportation officials have cited a planned schedule for the replacement of the Market Street Bridge to include a second round of public meetings in early 2027, with right-of-way acquisitions and plan development leading into 2028 and a potential completion of the project by 2031.

A contract for the planning and development of the industrial access road was approved by Weirton Council in 2024, but a public timeline for its construction and completion has not been released.