West Virginia Department of Transportation’s Grant Street Bridge

In 2019, the Grant Street Bridge in Bluefield, WV, was closed due to critical safety issues. However, closing the bridge separated the north and east portions of downtown; forcing an inconvenient detour for the town’s largely minority population. To address this issue, a $10.9 million West Virginia Department of Transportation project restored the bridge and reconnected the community; serving residents for decades to come while enhancing mobility for the surrounding area. This project is more than a bridge structure; it is symbolic of a united community and a representation of how infrastructure plays such a vital role in the quality of life for the citizens in Bluefield. The Grant Street bridge project revived a vital connector for vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic between the east end and north side of Bluefield. Residents now have easier and quicker access to bus routes linking the city to the rest of the state and beyond.