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Advisory
Committee
Meeting #7
Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson
Bridge Study Advisory Committee
May 3, 2000
Below are the minutes
taken by Lisa Kush for the Bridge Study Committee conducted on May 3,
2000 at the Jefferson Community College, Steubenville, Ohio. This is a
full list of attendees and description of happenings.
On May 3rd, at 1:30
p.m., the Bridge Advisory Committee was called to order by Chairman David
Snelting. The meeting proceeded in the following manner.
- Minutes from the
March 15th meeting were unanimously approved as submitted by the committee.
- Caleb Faux, Project
Manager for the Bridge Study and a member of the consultant firm of
Plum, Klausmeier & Gehrum (PKG) introduced a draft report for Phase
I of the Upper Ohio Valley Bridge System Study. The draft report outlined
the consultants findings related to the question of a need for additional
river crossing capacity in the project study area.
- Mr. Faux reported
that based on the technical analysis and the adopted goals established
of the Bridge Advisory Committee several conclusions were reached. Those
conclusions are as follows:
- The
current bridge system in the BHJ region study area currently has the
roadway capacity to accommodate both the present and future river-crossing
volume, providing upgrades are made to a number of deficiencies two
of the three existing bridges are faced with.
- Both the Ft.
Steuben Bridge and the Market Street bridges are well past their design
life. Although maintenance updates which total nearly $10 million
for both bridges could extend their useful life, PKG concluded that
neither bridge can be brought up to modern standards due to inherent
design constraints. In addition, maintenance investments cannot prevent
key structural failures, resulting in an abrupt closure of either
bridge at any time.
- With
heavy truck traffic being a normal component of river-crossing traffic,
PKG concluded that the Market Street Bridge would never be capable
of supporting commercial truck traffic, regardless of any future maintenance
upgrades. With that in mind, in the event the Ft. Steuben Bridge would
be shut down, the BHJ region would be left with only one river-crossing
capable of carrying commercial truck traffic.
- Should
both of the older bridges within the BHJ region be forced out of service,
the region could be left with only a single river-crossing, The Veterans
Memorial Bridge, for all river crossing. Although the Veteran Memorial
Bridge has the capability of carry a high level of traffic, it susceptible
to blockages due to traffic accidents and is periodically closed for
inspection requirements. Should either situation occur, the two older
bridges are not adequate to carry the existing or projected traffic
volumes.
- With
all three river-crossings concentrated within a small geographic area,
PKG concluded that the overall flexibility of the transportation system
in the region is constrained; therefore, resulting in lengthy work
travel times, significant economic burdens. In addition, the lack
of flexibility is seen as a deterrent to new economic development
- In
the event that only one river crossing would exist within the metropolitan
area, a hazard would be created in relation to emergency situations
and that is unacceptable being that the BHJ region’s transportation
system is heavily dependent on the two north/south Principal Arterials:
WV 2 and Ohio 7.
Based on PKG’s conclusions,
it was recommended by the consultants that the Bridge System Study of
the Upper Ohio Valley proceed to Phase II, the identification of an appropriate
river crossing location. A discussion comment period followed.
After discussing the
consultants conclusions, Bridge Advisory Committee Member Russ Irvin moved
to adopt the Phase I Final report with the following changes:
- Page
35, paragraph 4, of the report will be changed to read, "If it
is determined that either of the two older bridges are closed due
to structural deficiencies or other reasons, additional bridges would
need to be constructed to accommodate traffic demands." (Recommendation
made by both Russ Irvin of Wellsburg and Gary DuFour of Steubenville.)
- The
report would outline the conclusions (with bullets) as presented during
a slide presentation by the consultants. (Recommendation made by Brian
Linkesh, Weirton Chamber of Commerce.)
W. Duane Heck of the
Brooke County Planning Commission seconded the motion. A motion was then
made to amend the motion. Richard Warner, West Virginia Department of
Transportation Urban Studies Selection Department, said WVDOT would need
to further review the report and make any necessary comments. The motion
to recommend the final report, contingent upon WVDOT’s was then passed
unanimously by the committee.
Dr. John Brown, BHJ
Executive Director then explained that before the Advisory Committee and
the bridge consultants could move into Phase II, the BHJ Technical Advisory
Committee would have to recommend the Phase I Final Report and make a
recommendation to the BHJ Full Policy Commission, where again the report
is subject to approval. Once approved, funding for Phase II will have
to be allocated by both the West Virginia Department of Transportation
and the Ohio Department of Transportation. ODOT Representative Karen Monaco
announced that ODOT has allocated $75,000 for Phase II of the project.
Although WVDOT has not made an official announcement of funding support,
unofficially they have said they will support Phase II.
The meeting adjourned
at 2:30 p.m. The Advisory Committee tentatively scheduled July 19th
for the first monthly meeting for Phase II.
| Persons
Present: |
|
| Will
Allison |
Hancock
County Economic Development Authority |
| Frank
Bovina |
Village
of Mingo Junction |
| John
Brown |
Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson
Planning Commission |
| Caleb
Faux |
Pflum,
Klausmeier & Gehrum Consultants |
| Adrian
Freund |
Pflum,
Klausmeier & Gehrum Consultants |
| Gene
DelGreco |
City
of Weirton |
| Gary
Dufour |
City
of Steubenville |
| W.
Duane Heck |
Brooke
County Commission |
| Russ
Irvin |
City
of Wellsburg |
| Perry
Keller |
Pflum,
Klausmeier & Gehrum Consultants |
| Lisa
Kush |
Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson
Metropolitan Planning Commission |
| Bob
Laukert |
Village
of Wintersville |
| Brian
Linkesh |
Weirton
Area Chamber of Commerce |
| Karen
Monaco |
Ohio
Department of Development |
| John
Murry |
Business
Development Corporation of the Northern Panhandle |
| Mike
Paprocki |
Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson
Planning Commission |
| Rick
Platt |
Alliance
2000 |
| Daniel
Sikora |
West
Virginia Department of Highways |
| David
Snelting |
City
of Steubenville |
| Daniel
Tassey |
Brooke-Hancock
Assessor's Office |
| Ronald
Ujcich |
Brooke
County Board of Education |
| Richard
Warner |
West
Virginia Department of Transporation |
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