B&N completed the study, design, and construction plans for the replacement of the Princeton Overhead Bridge, which carries WV Route 20 over Brush Creek, Virginian Industrial Park Road, and two Norfolk Southern railroad tracks in Mercer County. The design was completed in 2025, and the project is now under construction.
The project team evaluated six replacement alternatives before selecting a four-span steel plate girder structure approximately 560 feet long. The final design includes two 12 foot lanes, two 8 foot shoulders, sidewalks on both sides and combination railing barriers equipped with protective fencing extending 10 feet above the sidewalk to meet railroad safety requirements. The horizontal and vertical alignments are curved, and the profile closely matches the existing roadway to support staged construction.
Because the site is adjacent to a historic district and museum, B&N incorporated black decorative lighting along the bridge and approaches to complement the surrounding context. To avoid residential displacement, the alignment was shifted slightly downstream. Foundation analysis considered drilled shafts, caissons and micropiles; the final solution uses semi-integral abutments supported on drilled shafts with rock sockets and cap and column piers on drilled caissons.
Traffic Services
B&N’s structural field assessment and stability analysis confirmed the existing bridge could support staged construction with targeted repairs. This allowed WV Route 20 to remain open with two lane, two way traffic throughout construction and eliminated the need for a detour. Staging also minimized the construction footprint within the railroad right of way and reduced coordination constraints with Norfolk Southern. The new structure provides improved hydraulic performance by clearing the 100 year flood elevation of Brush Creek and meeting required vertical railroad clearances.
B&N continues to support the project through construction consultation and submittal review. This ongoing role helps ensure design intent, coordination requirements and safety considerations are maintained as the project progresses.