WHEELING, W.Va. — After more than 10 months of closure, the Washington Avenue Bridge in Wheeling officially reopened Sunday evening, October 18, with a community celebration that brought residents together for an afternoon of music, food and festivities.
The celebration, called “Getting Back to Bridge-ness,” marked the long-awaited reopening of the bridge and the end of months of detours and inconvenience for motorists and residents who rely on the crossing.
The Bridgefest celebration began at 3 p.m. and continued through 7 p.m., featuring live entertainment, food vendors, children’s activities and a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
Local food vendors included Grecos, Gringos, Faygo’s and Dupes Scoops, giving attendees a variety of options while enjoying the festivities.
Families were also invited to participate in a designated kids’ zone featuring an inflatable slide, face painting and balloon animals.
Live music was a major part of the celebration, with Libby Adams & the Band performing from 3 to 4:30 p.m., followed by Punching Oswald from 5 to 7 p.m.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was the Wheeling Park High School Marching Band’s performance, which included a march across the bridge at 4 p.m.
The official reopening ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled for 6 p.m., marking a significant milestone for the community after more than 10 months without access to the bridge.
The reopening restores an important transportation connection for Wheeling residents and motorists who have spent much of the past year navigating alternate routes.
Beyond the return of traffic, Sunday’s celebration gave the community an opportunity to come together and recognize the bridge’s importance to the surrounding neighborhoods.
With the Washington Avenue Bridge once again open, residents can finally put months of detours behind them.
For Wheeling, Bridgefest was more than a celebration. It marked the return of a connection the community had been waiting more than 10 months to regain.
