EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio - Contractors Modjeski and Masters are currently designing plans for permanent repairs to the Jennings Randolph Bridge, which connects East Liverpool to West Virginia before it reopens to traffic.

The bridge closed on December 11 after engineers with the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) noticed cracking in two welds on the steel bridge structure.

These cracks were not visible to the naked eye, but the bridge was closed as a matter of caution while crews came up with a repair plan. The two cracks were arrested using dogbone repairs by WVDOH crews from Central Forces (CenForce).

Two holes were drilled parallel to one another above and below the cracks and the holes were connected with a horizontal cut through the steel. This prevents the cracks from getting any bigger.

At the same time, Modjeski and Masters are inspected the bridge for any other potential defects while WVDOH engineers continue evaluating the structure and plan for future repairs.

Modjeski and Masters completed this inspection on December 22 and found 18 additional defects on welds of the bridge. Seven of those defects will be arrested with dogbone repairs and the rest will be repaired by drilling out bad portions of the welds.

Once those repairs are completed, the bridge will reopen to traffic.

In the meantime, WVDOH has called on contractors Triton Construction Inc. to complete repairs. Triton is currently gathering materials and equipment to do the job.