Bridge collapse during demolition injures three workers in wheeling

A bridge undergoing demolition in Wheeling, West Virginia collapsed on the afternoon of January 7, 2026, injuring three construction workers and highlighting the risks associated with ageing infrastructure replacement. The incident occurred at the Washington Avenue Bridge, which spans Wheeling Creek and had been closed to traffic since early December due to advanced structural deterioration. At the time of the collapse, demolition works were actively underway as part of a full replacement project scheduled for completion in 2026.

According to local fire and transportation authorities, contractors were in the process of removing the bridge deck using heavy equipment when a section of the superstructure suddenly failed. An excavator and a dump truck were positioned on the deck when the collapse occurred, causing a portion of the steel superstructure to fall into the creek below. The workers were also thrown into the water. One worker sustained serious injuries, while the other two suffered non life threatening injuries. All were transported to Wheeling Hospital for treatment.

The bridge is city owned and had experienced long term structural degradation, despite undergoing repair works as recently as 2021. Its demolition and replacement were being administered under the federal off system bridge program, reflecting the broader challenge of maintaining and safely decommissioning deteriorated bridges across the United States.

Although demolition activities are planned and controlled operations, this incident underscores the importance of temporary stability assessments, sequencing of deck removal, and load redistribution during dismantling. Investigations by state and city authorities are expected to focus on demolition methodology, residual structural capacity, and construction staging to determine the cause of failure and prevent similar incidents during bridge replacement projects.