ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio – A Martins Ferry resident questioned Belmont County Commissioners about the status of the closed Blaine Hill Bridge at Wednesday’s regular meeting.
Richard Hord told commissioners the bridge has now been closed for months but the public has not been updated concerning when it would reopen. Hord said travel from the Martins Ferry and Bridgeport areas to St. Clairsville is now very difficult with the bridge being out of commission.
ODOT closed the bridge totally August 5 due to deterioration and drivers ignoring closed signs and going the wrong way up the bridge facing oncoming traffic. ODOT had previously closed the bridge to westbound traffic beginning July 3.
Motorists remain inconvenienced by the bridge closure and resulting traffic snarls in the Bridgeport area.
Commissioner J.P. Dutton told Hord that the bridge is an a vital transportation and economic artery in Belmont County.
Commissioner Jerry Echemann said he would check with his contact at the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) about the bridge.
River News Network also contacted ODOT Wednesday, and an official there said the agency is finalizing information for an update to be released within the next week.
Check back here with the River News Network website and Facebook page and X for updates.
