The Wheeling Suspension Bridge first opened in 1849, long before West Virginia became a state. This week, Eyewitness News said state transportation officials met with city leaders to officially decide its future and decided the bridge will remain closed to vehicle traffic. The last cars crossed in 2019, before an overweight tour bus damaged the structure.
Moving forward, the state plans to refocus the bridge for pedestrian use, with improvements to lighting, signage, and safety.
The bridge—once the first to span the Ohio River—will now be preserved as a historic landmark and downtown centerpiece.