Pigeon Roost Bridge

Originally built in the late 19th century, the Pigeon Roost Bridge later became part of State Route 8. On December 5, 1930, West Virginia requested the renumbering of State Route 8 as U.S. Route 52, which the American Association of State Highway Officials approved on June 22, 1931. ^[4]

During this transition, the State Road Commission proposed several improvement projects for State Route 8, later U.S. Route 52, between Lavalette and Wayne.

• Project 2180, authorized in 1926, included guardrails and gravel surfacing along 10.8 miles of State Route 8. ^[5][9] The guardrail installation was completed by 1930. ^[6] In 1931, 5.9 miles were approved for concrete paving (18 feet wide), ^[2][9] while another 0.9 miles were graded and graveled as part of U.S. Route 52. ^[7][8][10] The project initially proposed the utilization of a 175-foot bridge over Twelvepole Creek at Dickson, ^[2] but in 1931, the state instead authorized the construction of three new bridges. ^[9]
• Project 196, covering the remaining 4.1 miles between Lavalette and Wayne, was underway by 1933. ^[10]
• Project 196B, authorized in October 1933, funded the construction of Bridge 1319 over Twelvepole Creek between Dickson and Pigeon Roost. ^[1][3][11] The new two-lane concrete and steel girder bridge was completed in 1934, replacing the Pigeon Roost Bridge. ^[11]

The old Pigeon Roost Bridge was redesignated as part of County Route 52/38 (Hiram Ferguson Road), while the former alignment of U.S. Route 52 became County Route 52/38 and County Route 52/39 (Camp Road). ^[4] It was abandoned between 1971 and 1983.