Plans for some major bridge improvements were unveiled at a public meeting on Thursday as West Virginia ranks ninth nationally in the number of structurally deficient bridges. On Thursday, concrete spalling on the Fort Hill Bridge carrying Interstate 64 over the Kanawha River in Charleston revealed an exposed rebar in the center lane which caused crews to close parts of the roadway to get to work. Kanawha County has some 500 bridges and along with Putnam, Mason, Boone and Clay counties, DOH District One poses a big challenge regarding bridge repairs. For next year, District One has 15 short span projects in the works, and they’ll also be plans for work on 23 larger bridges through federal aid bridge projects at an estimated cost of $42,000,000.