Bridge Day is Here!

Local residents enjoy historic opening of span

By ROGER ADKINS
WASHINGTON, W.Va. — The Blennerhassett Island Bridge and Corridor D have been a lifetime in the making for many area residents who were glad to see the dream become a reality Thursday afternoon.

The bridge over Blennerhassett Island was opened to pedestrian traffic and was the site of a road race Thursday to give residents a chance to see the structure up close before it opens to vehicle traffic today.

Mike Kelly of Harrisville sat on his BMW motorcycle, waiting to be joined by family members before walking across the bridge. He said he was impressed by the structure and was glad to see the project come to fruition.

“It’s pretty nice. I’m an engineer by training and I just read that they received an award for the project. It seems to be well-deserved,” he said.

Kelly said it was a great idea for the West Virginia Division of Highways to open up the bridge to pedestrian traffic.

“It gives the community a little more of a sense of ownership,” he said.

The bridge will be a long-term economic boost to the area, Kelly said. Although some businesses have been negatively affected by Corridor D, many more will spring up around the new highway.

“I think it will be a good thing. Obviously some businesses have suffered and some will dwindle, but others will pop up. There are winners and losers in anything,” he said. “It’s going to take some development, but there are opportunities for business on both sides of the river. It won’t happen overnight, especially with the way the economy is right now.”

Kelly said he was most pleased that the bridge will alleviate tractor-trailer traffic in downtown Parkersburg.

Many people echoed Kelly’s sentiments about the bridge.

Judy Wyatt of Washington County said she enjoyed being out on the bridge on a beautiful day.

“It’s just awesome. It’s a wonderful opportunity to view the bridge and the island. It’s an historic time for our area. I’m very pleased we got to be a part of it,” she said.

Audrey Watson, Wyatt’s niece, said it was great to see Blennerhassett Island from the bridge.

“I think it’s exciting to walk across the bridge and see things on the island we didn’t know were there,” she said.

Both Watson and Wyatt said they are excited about the new businesses that are bound to spring up around Corridor D.

“We’re hoping for some nice, new sit-down restaurants,” Watson said.

Many residents have watched the Corridor D and Blennerhassett Island Bridge projects from the beginning. Loyd and Janet Williams of Washington didn’t bother trying to contain their enthusiasm about the projects and the opportunity to see the bridge up close.

“We’ve watched it since before day one,” Janet Williams said. “We’re excited about it. We wouldn’t have missed this for the world. We’ve been looking forward to it all summer. We’ve made lots of trips down here to watch them work on it. We were really happy when we found out we were going to get to walk on it.”

Loyd Williams said he and his wife have known for many years that U.S. 50 eventually would be a direct connection between West Virginia and Ohio.

“We’ve spent our whole lives knowing it would go through,” Janet Williams said.

“I first heard about it in high school in the 1950s,” Loyd Williams said.

Laura Bradley of Marietta went to the bridge event after she got off work in downtown Parkersburg. She said she’s happy the bridge will draw some heavy truck traffic away from the downtown area.

Robin Davis of Washington said the new bridge is awesome, in the literal sense of the world.

“It’s totally awesome. It’s gorgeous,” she said.

Davis’ son, Morgan Davis, 14, said he was happy to be a part of the historical event.

“It’s definitely a part of history. It’s cool to walk it,” he said.

Morgan Davis said he can’t wait to see new businesses open in the area around the highway.

“It will be really cool to see new businesses come in. I’ll have less distance to travel when I get a car,” he said.

“Notice he said when not if,” Robin Davis said of her son’s future transportation.

Bill McClure of Parkersburg said he’s been waiting for a U.S. 50 connector to Ohio since he was a boy.

“I’ve been waiting for this day since I was 10 years old. It’s more than what I could have imagined. West Virginia and Ohio really got together and did it right. This is something both states can be proud of,” he said.

Barbara and Robert Smith of Vienna said Thursday’s bridge preview was a part of local history.

“We’ve heard about this all of our lives and now the day is finally here,” Barbara Smith said.