Three news stories from upriver

The old Bellaire Toll Bridge at Wheeling, W.Va., was closed to traffic in 1991. Its approaches were removed, and, for a variety of reasons, it has not been removed. Now there is talk that it could finally come down, according to the Wheeling newspapers. Or maybe not.

I'll admit that I hope it doesn't come down until I can get up there and get some photos. There are a lot of photo-worthy bridges at Wheeling and above, but this one in particular has my interest. That's because it looks a lot like the old 6th Street Bridge that crossed the Ohio River at Huntington, W.Va., from the 1920s until it was closed in 1994 and demolished in 1995.

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The Ohio River as "Marine Highway One" to take advantage of containerized shipping? Okay, we have a few years to talk about it and to determine if it's feasible or likely.

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The State Journal has a story on what's going on with plans to improve the locks and dams on the lower Monongahela River.

Two Mountain States

I was getting a few pictures of my favorite bridge. I'd finished, and I was getting into the car when I saw some coal barges through the trees. Then I noticed the letters "AEP" on them. Then I heard the sound of the boat's engines. It was one that I recognized.

So, I got a few photos of the mv. Mountain State this morning. Here's one. Note that in the background, behind the bridge, is West Virginia, the Mountain State.