PHOTOS: Capito Makes Stops in Northern Panhandle

NORTHERN PANHANDLE, W.Va. - U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today made several stops in West Virginia's Northern Panhandle focused on economic development and Congressionally Directed Spending.

First, Senator Capito traveled to Wheeling, W.Va. to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly-renovated Wheeling Heritage Artisan Center. This project was made possible through a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) award secured by Senator Capito.

"West Virginia has a heritage that we are incredibly proud of, and it's important we do all we can to preserve and maintain the places that make up our heritage, our history, and our traditions so that future generations can cherish them. That is where places like Wheeling Heritage come in. I was proud to secure the funding that helped relocate and make needed improvements to the Wheeling Artisan Center at Wheeling Heritage, which will help them better-engage the community. I am confident that these renovations will go a long way in helping to add to the city's efforts to bring in visitors, preserve the city's rich history, and grow the economy," Senator Capito said.

"This project is exciting on so many levels. It really is a community space which would not have been possible without the support of Senator Capito and her team," Scott Shenerlein, Executive Director of Wheeling Heritage, said.

Next, Senator Capito, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, visited the Market Street Bridge that connects Follansbee, W.Va. and Steubenville, Ohio. In July, Senator Capito announced $87.5 million to replace the bridge. The funding for the West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) Division of Highways comes through the Bridge Investment Program (BIP), which was established in the EPW Committee's Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act that was included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed into law in 2021.

"As we wrote and negotiated the IIJA, we made it a priority to provide specific funding to repair and replace major bridges like the Market Street Bridge, which is a crucial thoroughfare for workers, residents, and visitors in our state every day. After seeing the condition of the bridge today, it only emphasizes the need to replace it and I look forward to getting it done," Senator Capito said.

Finally, Senator Capito traveled to Weirton, W.Va. to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Weirton Water Treatment Plant expansion project. This effort will double the treatment plant's capacity, affecting nearly 20,000 residents across the City of Weirton, as well as Hancock and Brooke counties. This project was made possible through a CDS award secured by Senator Capito.

"The economic development taking place in Weirton is creating jobs and growing the economy. I have seen this growth firsthand and I am thrilled to not only see the critical resources I advocated for reach the city, but to also celebrate this important milestone here in Weirton today," SenatorCapito said. "This funding will double the city's water system treatment capacity, allowing expansion of services for residents and current and future redevelopment. I will continue supporting investments like this - which have a direct benefit for West Virginia - through my role on the Senate Appropriations Committee."

"This awesome infrastructure investment of Congressionally Directed Spending, matched with State of West Virginia grants, West Virginia Water Development Authority funds, as well as local dollars totaling $44 million, cements the fact that Weirton's best days lay ahead and not in the past," Butch Mastrantoni, Weirton Utilities Director, said.

Photos from today's events are included below:

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) speaks at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly-renovated Wheeling Heritage Artisan Center in Wheeling, W.Va. on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) visits the Market Street Bridge overlooking West Virginia from Steubenville, Ohio on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) participates in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Weirton Water Treatment Plant expansion project in Weirton, W.Va. on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.

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