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Like many bridges in the region, there are some Calhoun structures that are in
desperate need of upgrade or replacement.
The West Virginia Department of Transportation provided the Herald with a list of
49 bridges that are state owned. Most meet safety standards.
Bridges that have a span less than 20 feet are considered short spans and are
handled through the county.
The rating formula is a National Bridge Inventory model, and takes into account a
number of parameters for each bridge, according to Clifford W. Essig, District 3
Engineer in Parkersburg. The scale is from zero to 100.
One of two bridges that has the worst listing is being replaced.
Contracts have been let for the Annamoriah Run bridge (Route 35) just off State
Route 5. That bridge has a negative rating of 21.3868, the worst on the list. The
bridge was built in 1946.
The other bridge that is in serious trouble is the "Junk Stump Bridge" (Route 7) at
Steer Creek with a rating of 21.2778. The bridge was built in 1915, the oldest bridge
on the list.
Other bridges that appear to have some problems are in the 50 to 60 range:
Cole Run Culvert (1950) Co. Rt. 2 - 55.2754
Yellow Creek Bridge (1963) Co. Rt. 4 - 61.5256
Henrietta Bridge/Laurel Creek (1940) Route 5 - 50.6749
Walnut Grove Slab/Left Fork Barnes Run (1920) Co. Rt. 7 - 50.9017
Big Root I-Beam (1960) Co. Rt. 10 - 50.6592
Minnora Bridge (1932) Route 16 - 57.8288
All other county bridges rate above 60 on the list.
The sufficiency rating uses three elements. Fifty-five percent of the rating is
structural adequacy, thirty-percent is serviceability and fifteen percent is related to
public use, or how many users and what type of users.
Twelve of the forty-nine bridges were built before 1940.
Seven bridges have a rating of ninety of more. | 
