In Steubenville, Ohio, and Weirton, West Virginia, local leaders are seeking federal support for a new Market Street Bridge over the Ohio River, which is critical for connecting communities and completing an ambitious Great American Rail-Trail project. Despite political tensions in Washington, mayors from both sides of the river and across party lines advocate for the trail's economic benefits, emphasizing its potential to attract businesses and retain young residents. The proposed bridge would span nearly 1,800 feet, replacing a severely rusted structure that closed three years ago due to safety concerns.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Deep in Appalachia, a rail-to-trail project builds bipartisan support for a bridge
STEUBENVILLE, Ohio —
asserted
project → build → bridge
The Market Street Bridge still looms over the Ohio River, spanning almost 1,800 feet between downtown Steubenville and the green hills around Weirton, W.Va., on the other side.
asserted
Bridge → loom → side
But this once majestic steel suspension bridge closed nearly three years ago.
asserted
bridge → close → ?
And up close, it's easy to see why transportation officials consider it beyond repair.
asserted
it → see → repair
"You got severe rusting under here," explains Michael Paprocki, a regional transportation planner, as he points to visible holes in the rusted beams under the bridge's deck.
asserted
he → got → deck
"In reality, if it stood long enough, it would probably collapse under its own weight.
asserted
it → stand → weight
Local leaders say it's crucial to replace this bridge to reconnect the communities on either side.
asserted
it → say → side
But it's also important for another reason: The Ohio River is a major obstacle in the path of the Great American Rail-Trail, an ambitious plan to turn former rail corridors into bike and pedestrian trails that stretch from coast to coast.
asserted
that → turn → coast
Political gridlock in Washington is slowing down bicycle and pedestrian trails.
asserted
gridlock → slow → trails
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has made clear that he doesn't want to spend federal dollars on what he calls "DEI bike lanes."
asserted
he → make → what
But deep in Appalachia, there is bipartisan support for a multiuse trail that would connect Ohio and West Virginia.
asserted
that → be → Ohio
Mayors from both sides of the river — and both sides of the political divide — say the trail is vital to the region's economic future.
asserted
trail → say → future
That's why local movers and shakers gathered a few weeks ago on the Ohio side of the bridge to talk about how to make its proposed replacement a reality.
asserted
replacement → gather → bridge
"This is huge," said Republican Ralph Petrella, the mayor of Steubenville.
asserted
Petrella → say → Steubenville
In an interview with NPR, Petrella said the bridge and trail would help raise the city's profile.
asserted
bridge → say → profile
"This is a national entity that would help our economic development and continue the momentum we have for revitalization."
asserted
we → help → revitalization
Dean Harris worked at a local steel mill for 48 years.
asserted
Harris → work → years
The mill closed in 2024, and Harris says Weirton is trying to attract new employers.
asserted
Weirton → close → employers
"Weirton is in the process of sort of rebranding ourselves.
asserted
Weirton → rebrande → ourselves
Steel is what made us, and brought people to our area.
asserted
what → make → area
But obviously it's time for us to move on from that," Harris said.
asserted
Harris → move → that
"We need to look at the future and what's going to be good for future generations.
asserted
what → need → generations
And that's what we're in the process of doing."
asserted
we → do → process
Harris says the rail-trail project is part of that effort.
asserted
project → say → effort
Weirton already has a rail-trail that connects to the suburbs of Pittsburgh, about 30 miles east.
asserted
that → have → Pittsburgh
That helped Weirton attract a battery factory that opened several years ago, Harris said.
asserted
Harris → help → factory
Local leaders also hope the rail-trail will encourage more young people to stay.
asserted
trail → hope → people
Maura Barnes grew up in Ohio near Steubenville.
asserted
Barnes → grow → Steubenville
While most of her friends moved away, Barnes stayed after college to raise her own family in downtown Steubenville.
asserted
Barnes → move → Steubenville
"My husband and I, somewhat selfishly, really wanted a grocery store in walking distance, not just for ourselves and our family, but all the other people living in the downtown community," she said.
asserted
she → want → community
So Barnes and her husband opened the Steubenville Grocery Box with some friends.
asserted
Barnes → open → friends
But she says the closing of the Market Street Bridge hit the neighborhood hard.
asserted
closing → say → neighborhood
"I think a lot of it was almost spiritual," Barnes said.
asserted
Barnes → think → it
The Veterans Memorial Bridge, less than 2 miles away, carries highway traffic over the Ohio River.
asserted
Bridge → carry → River
But the Market Street Bridge was the only way for pedestrians or bikes to cross safely, and the only bridge that brought cars directly into downtown.
asserted
that → cross → downtown
"A lot of the businesses around us who had been open for years, they saw a pretty notable decrease in foot traffic and car traffic to their businesses when that closed," Barnes said.
asserted
Barnes → see → businesses
There is a plan to replace the Market Street Bridge with another one a few blocks away that would include a dedicated trail for bikes and pedestrians.
asserted
that → be → bikes
Congress has appropriated $87 million so far.
asserted
Congress → appropriate → million
But that's only a fraction of what the new bridge will actually cost.
asserted
bridge → cost → what
"The challenge of crossing a body of water as big as the Ohio River is monumental," said Eric Oberg, the senior director of programs at the Rails To Trails Conservancy, the nonprofit group behind the Great American Rail-Trail.
asserted
Oberg → cross → Trail
…and 15 more, not listed.
The Aporia
