The Benton Ferry Bridges, consisting of two steel arch structures, facilitated the crossing of Interstate 79 over the Tygart River and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in Pleasant Valley, West Virginia.
In March 1960, the proposal for a Fairmont bypass initiated the concept of WV Route 73. This route, planned as a two-lane highway, was to link US Route 250 in White Hall with Secondary Route 64 near Benton Ferry. Simultaneously, a north-south freeway extending from the Pennsylvania state line at Mt. Morris to Beckley was in the planning stages. By August, the State Road Commission had awarded a contract for the construction of the Benton Ferry Bridge. This bridge, intended for WV Route 73, was designed with a steel arch main span and 13 adjoining steel girder spans.
In November 1961, during the first public hearings for Interstate 79, the Benton Ferry Bridge, still under construction, was incorporated into this new interstate route, forming its future northbound section. Subsequently, in 1963, plans for an additional bridge at the same location were developed for the southbound lane of Interstate 79. This southbound bridge was completed in 1966, coinciding with the completion and designation of Interstate 79 as a four-lane highway.
Fast forward to 2022, the West Virginia Department of Transportation commenced a project to expand Interstate 79 to three lanes in each direction across the Tygart River. This expansion is part of a broader initiative to widen the highway between Clarksburg and Morgantown. The project includes replacing the original arch bridge with a new girder bridge. As part of this redevelopment, the southbound Benton Ferry Bridge was demolished on March 22, 2023. The demolition of the northbound bridge is scheduled for 2024.
