Three people were injured Wednesday afternoon when the Washington Avenue Bridge in a residential area of Wheeling collapsed into the waterway.
The call came in around 1:45 p.m. after residents reported a “very loud, thunderous boom.” First responders arrived to find the bridge had partially collapsed.
The three people on the structure at the time were evacuated safely and transported to Wheeling Hospital. One sustained serious injuries, while the other two had non-life-threatening injuries.
The bridge had been closed last month for demolition as part of a replacement project managed by the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH). Work on dismantling began Monday.
“The fire department, police, emergency management, sheriff’s office, and city officials all worked together to get the individuals safely onto the roadway and transported to the hospital,” said Philip Stahl, Public Information Officer for the City of Wheeling.
WVDOH reported that an excavator and dump truck were on the bridge deck when the steel superstructure collapsed into the water.
“The steel superstructure is in the water, but the remaining deck and construction equipment are above water,” said Brent Walker, WVDOH spokesperson.
First responders cleared the scene by 3:30 p.m., and crews are continuing work on a full replacement project for the aging bridge. The closure is expected to last until early October, with Merlo, Incorporated serving as the contractor.