Joyce signs Memorial Bridge agreement

Acquisition and development deal moving forward, closing not scheduled yet

PARKERSBURG -- The sale of the Memorial Bridge is moving forward.

Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce signed an acquisition and development agreement Wednesday morning, the day after Parkersburg City Council voted 8-0, with one member absent, to approve the sale to Parkersburg Bridge Partners.

The company is a subsidiary of Colorado-based United Bridge Partners, which submitted a proposal to purchase the bridge for $4 million and begin an approximately $50 million rehabilitation project to extend the useful life of the toll bridge by at least 50 years.

A closing date for the sale has not been determined, Joyce said. That's when the city would receive the $4 million payment. In addition, PBP is making no claim on approximately $15 million the city has allocated for operations, maintenance and demolition of the bridge.

"Parkersburg Bridge Partners is excited to take on this project, carrying on the legacy of Memorial Bridge as we modernize and rehabilitate the structure," said Ken Szeliga, vice president of construction and operations for United Bridge Partners, in a news release Wednesday. "Our national-caliber design, engineering, construction and operations team has extensive bridge experience nationally, within Parkersburg and the greater Mid-Ohio Valley."

The release said the agreement is the first step to convey the bridge to PBP. The company will now begin design and permitting work, although preparation has been underway for quite a while, with proposal documents noting more than 80 preliminary design drawings have been completed.

A schedule included in the proposal projects final contract execution by Jan. 1. At that point, PBP will assume financial responsibility for bridge operations and maintenance.

Ryan Dolan, vice president of business development for United Bridge Partners, said Tuesday construction will probably begin in the spring.

The construction is expected to last about 21 months, during which tolls will remain the same and " work will be sequenced and phased to keep the bridge open for traffic as much as possible," the release said. When it is complete, tolls will be collected electronically, with vehicles no longer having to stop to pay. Tolls will be increased at that point, with the projected price of $1 for a single crossing.

PBP plans to open a local office and hire a general manager to build the local customer service and operations team.

"To the extent possible, PBP is committed to using local union labor, material and equipment suppliers, engineering and technical consultants and professional services," the release said.

The project team includes lead contractor Kokosing Construction Co. of Ohio and Burgess & Niple as the owner's engineer, providing on-site oversight of construction activities.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.