Julianna St. Bridge Construction to Begin April 13

Multi-year project will rebuild aging concrete girder system on key Parkersburg bridge

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:50pm

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An impressionistic, out-of-focus photograph showing the shadowy outline of a bridge against a hazy, colorful urban backdrop, conveying the transitional nature of the upcoming construction project.The impending construction project on the Julianna Street bridge will temporarily disrupt traffic but ultimately improve the aging infrastructure's safety and reliability.Parkersburg Today

The West Virginia Division of Highways will start a major construction project on the J. Frank Deem Memorial Bridge on Julianna Street in Parkersburg next week. The multi-year project will rebuild the aging concrete girder system on the bridge, which has started to deteriorate and expose rebar. During construction, traffic will be shifted to nearby ramps as the work progresses.

Why it matters

The Julianna Street bridge is a critical transportation link in Parkersburg, carrying traffic over the Ohio River. Rebuilding the aging infrastructure is necessary to maintain public safety and ensure the bridge can continue serving the community for years to come.

The details

Starting April 13, crews will begin the construction project by cutting out the median barrier wall on the bridge and shifting all traffic onto Ramp B near the Matheny dealership on Ann Street. Ramp A will then be fully demolished and rebuilt. Once the new Ramp A is complete, the process will reverse, with traffic shifting again while Ramp B undergoes the same treatment. The concrete girder system on the bridge is deteriorating and starting to expose rebar, prompting the need for the reconstruction project.

  • The construction project will begin on April 13, 2026.
  • The contract completion date is set for August 28, 2028.

The players

West Virginia Division of Highways

The state agency responsible for maintaining and improving West Virginia's transportation infrastructure, including the Julianna Street bridge in Parkersburg.

Joshua Smith

District Construction Engineer for the West Virginia Division of Highways, overseeing the Julianna Street bridge construction project.

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What they’re saying

“Just trying to upgrade the system we've got right now. Juliana is a steel girder system and right now we've got a concrete girder. The concrete's starting to delaminate. We're starting to see some of that exposed rebar. So it's just good to get that replaced in a timely fashion before it becomes unsafe.”

— Joshua Smith, District Construction Engineer

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This construction project is a necessary investment in Parkersburg's aging infrastructure, ensuring the Julianna Street bridge can continue serving the community safely for years to come. The multi-year timeline and traffic disruptions highlight the complexity of major bridge reconstruction efforts.