Part of a busy street in South Charleston will be closed for at least the next two weeks while crews try to figure out how to repair a dilapidated bridge.
Barricades already have been up for a week around the span on Central Avenue, near the Kanawha Turnpike and not far from the Montrose Avenue exit of Interstate 64.
South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens said city officials decided last week to completely close off the bridge after engineers spotted a large hole in the decking.
"I want to let the public know, the bridge is in bad shape," Mullens said. "It's not going to fall, but it's in bad shape."
Mullens, who was elected mayor this summer after serving 14 years as the city's public works director, said he recalls at least three instances when the bridge has needed major repair work.
Most recently, in April 2006, traffic was disrupted along I-64 as crews worked on the bridge.
"The bridge has slowly deteriorated over the years," Mullens said. "That this is happening during a time of this national bridge awareness really is just a coincidence."
Cities and states around the nation have stepped up their inspections of bridges after the collapse in Minneapolis earlier this month that left at least 13 dead.
The Central Avenue overpass, which connects large residential areas on the east and west sides of South Charleston, is the only major bridge owned and maintained by the city, Mullens said.
He said engineers also are concerned about "three or four other spots" on the bridge that look like they could pose problems.
With school starting this week, Mullens said there also was concern about the heavy pedestrian traffic over the bridge.
He said many students cross the span on their way to school or to bus stops, and the fencing on it also is in need of repair.
South Charleston Middle School is located just a few blocks away on Third Avenue, and many parents use the bridge when dropping off and picking up students.
Mullens said the city has scheduled a full inspection of the bridge that's set to begin today.
He said it will take about 10 days for inspectors to complete their work and get a full report back to city officials, who then will be faced with the decision about what kind of repairs or rebuilding is necessary.
In the meantime, motorists are urged to use two alternative routes accessible by Jefferson Road or Montrose Drive.