Photo Provided An Ohio Department of Transportation crew uses a “Snooper Truck” to access areas of the Blaine Hill Bridge to seal joints in preparation for a rehabilitation project to begin in May.

BRIDGEPORT — Ohio Department of Transportation crews recently completed preliminary work on the Blaine Hill Bridge, sealing off bridge joints to meet necessary environmental requirements before starting construction.

Crews completed the work using equipment that included ODOT’s Snooper Truck. A lift was used to access areas of the bridge with deteriorating conditions.

The project will sell on April 24, and construction will begin in May. The completion date for the project is expected by early summer 2026.

The rehabilitation of the bridge originally was scheduled to begin in 2027, but a public outcry about the safety hazards and inconveniences caused by its closure led ODOT to move up that timeline.

“We know how important this bridge is to the community. Our goal has always been to reopen the bridge as quickly as possible. Our team has worked tirelessly to find a better solution and we are excited to share this update with the community,” ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn said.

The bridge has been closed since August.

ODOT originally closed just one lane of traffic in July due to bridge deterioration, but ODOT and the Ohio State Highway Patrol began receiving reports of drivers traveling west in the open eastbound lanes. ODOT said that led to several close calls that forced the department to completely shut down the bridge in early August.

Inspections of the bridge have revealed deterioration of several critical components of the bridge. That deterioration has continued even with traffic completely restricted. The historic structure is a key component of U.S. 40 route through Belmont County.

Design work has been underway for several months. The project work includes removing the existing deck, replacing 400 box beams and the decorative concrete railing on the bridge, and making repairs to the support columns.

The project has an estimated cost of $13.52 million.

Built in 1932, ODOT noted the reinforced concrete bridge consists of four “iconic arch spans” over Wheeling Creek that rise above the first Blaine Hill Bridge. That original three-arch span was constructed in 1828 as part of the National Road, which was the nation’s first federally funded highway. According to The Historical Marker Database, the original three-arch, S-shaped structure is 345 feet in length and is the longest original “S” bridge in existence on the old National Road. That first-generation bridge made the 500-foot westward climb out of the Ohio River Valley easier for pioneers who were opening up the West.

The S-bridge deteriorated but was saved from demolition in 1999. In 2001, it was designated Ohio’s official Bicentennial Bridge. School groups and tourists often visit the original bridge.

Also known as the “Blaine Hill Viaduct” and the “Arches of Memory,” the 1932 bridge is dedicated to World War I veterans and represents the middle era of east-west highway travel through the local region. Much of the traffic it once carried between the 1930s and 1960s has traveled along the adjacent Interstate 70 since that highway opened in the area in 1964.

ODOT has said that preserving the 1932 bridge’s historical value while modernizing its function is critical to the rehabilitation project. The effort will integrate durable materials such as advanced concrete sealants and resilient design elements that extend the bridge’s lifespan and protect its architectural integrity.

If you have any comments, concerns or questions about the project, contact ODOT District 11 Public Information Officer Lauren Borell at 330-308-7817 or D11.PIO@dot.ohio.gov.