Rehabbing Our Bridges

September 16, 2025
12:00pm - 1:00pm

Rehabilitation of the Historic Monument Place and Wheeling Suspension Bridges

In 1806, President Thomas Jefferson authorized the construction of the Cumberland Road (later becoming the National Road), linking Cumberland, Maryland, to Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia). The National Road spurred a regional economic boom and helped Wheeling become the gateway to the West as hundreds of wagons carried goods over the road annually. The new linkage between the Potomac and Ohio Rivers reduced travel time and greatly reduced shipping costs. The Monument Place Bridge (constructed in 1817) is the oldest bridge in West Virginia, among the oldest in the country, and one of two extant bridges in West Virginia from the historic National Road, along with the Wheeling Suspension Bridge (constructed in 1849). For over two centuries, these bridges have served the needs of the local community, the region, and the nation. To help preserve these bridges, the West Virginia Division of Highways carried out two recent rehabilitation projects. This presentation, by the engineering consultant who worked with the WVDOH on these projects, will talk about the historic and structural considerations involved, and share photos of the construction and completed projects.

Presenter Matthew Bunner, P.E. is a Vice-President, Senior Structural Engineer and Project Manager at HDR (www.hdrinc.com). He holds BS and MS degrees in Civil (Structural) Engineering from Lehigh University and currently serves as the Section Manager for Structures for HDR’s West Virginia operations. Matt has over 34 years of experience (all with HDR) in the design and rehabilitation of many various types of bridge structures.

Lunch With Books Livestream starts at noon on Facebook and YouTube.

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"Lunch With Books" is the library’s flagship program for adult patrons. These lunchtime programs feature authors, poets, musicians, historians, and more every Tuesday at noon. Bring lunch (to the Library Auditorium or your computer), feed your brain!