Lighting Project’s Future Brightens

By BETHENY HOLSTEIN--Staff Writer

The project designed to add light to the Veterans Memorial Bridge between Steubenville and Weirton has been given a brighter future thanks to help from local contributors.

The Community Foundation of Jefferson County and the Weirton Area Community Foundation in August announced a joint community project designed to raise funds to light the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

According to Community Foundation of Jefferson County Executive Director Vicki Cummiskey, she was recently told of an invitation from the state of West Virginia to submit a final application for Transportation Enhancement funding.

Cummiskey said that a preliminary application for the money was approved, and the second applications should receive a response by the summertime. Also she said, if the transportation enhancement funding is approved the split will be 80 percent state funding and 20 percent local match.

She said the local share of the project total is likely to be about $106,000, and the cost is to be split over the two sides of the Ohio River. Cummiskey added that the money for the Ohio side has already been raised.

The two foundations are pro viding the leadership for the project, but several leaders from both Steubenville and Weirton, as well as agencies in both Ohio and West Virginia are working towards the lighting of the bridge.

“You just don’t realize how impressive that bridge is,” Weirton Mayor Dean Harris said. “We are just used to it because we see it every day.”

The possible design of the bridge lighting shows both a lighting of the bridge tower and cable stays with a goal of enhancing and spotlighting their natural beauty.

The design also shows 82 1,000-watt metal halide lights and 28 400-watt metal halide lights using specific beam pat terns to give the desired effect.

Cummiskey told the Wednesday meeting that she has received a letter from the Secretary Highway Commissioner for the West Virginia Department of Transportation Division of Highways stating that the maintenance of the lighting would be taken care of by that organization.

The estimated cost of the project construction is about $480,000, and the lights them selves will cost about $75,000. Engineering and design work for the project could cost about

$30-50,000.

The electric it will take to light the bridge will cost approximately $15,000 annually, but Cummiskey said she has received verbal agreements from the cities of Weirton and Steubenville to share the cost of the electricity.

According to Cummiskey, bridge feature lighting has grown in popularity over the past few years in cities across the United States, and many high-profile bridges have incorporated decorative lighting features.

“We have spent over a year researching the lighted bridges across the nation,’ Cummiskey said. “There is a lot Of home work that has been going into this project.”

A special fund has been created for the engineering costs, and the foundations are currently seeking donations from the community to pay for the project.

Persons interested in making a donation may contribute to the Community Foundation of Jefferson County Veterans Memorial Bridge Lighting, P. 0. Box 1822, Steubenville, OH 43952.