STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — A closed bridge spanning the Ohio River has cut off a direct route between downtown Steubenville and Weirton, West Virginia. Now officials from both communities are pressing for a replacement that would also carry cyclists and pedestrians across the river as part of the planned Great American Rail-Trail. The Market Street Bridge, nearly 1,800 feet long, has been closed since late 2023. Its anchoring cables failed, and visible rust and damage have led transportation officials to conclude the structure cannot be repaired safely. A highway bridge less than two miles away carries vehicles, but the Market Street crossing was the only nearby bridge offering a safe route for people walking or biking and the only one that brought cars directly into downtown Steubenville. The proposed replacement would be built a few blocks away and include a dedicated path for walking and biking. Congress has appropriated $87 million so far, but that covers only part of the expected cost. Local leaders are seeking additional state and federal support, including through negotiations over the next surface transportation funding bill. The new crossing would fill a major gap in the Great American Rail-Trail, a proposed 3,700-mile network of trails along former rail corridors. More than half of the route is already in place, according to Eric Oberg of the Rails to Trails Conservancy, but the Ohio River remains a significant obstacle. The issue drew Republican Steubenville Mayor Ralph Petrella and Democratic Weirton Mayor Dean Harris to a September gathering focused on advancing the bridge. Petrella said the project could raise Steubenville’s profile and support its economic revitalization. Harris, a former steelworker, said Weirton is looking beyond the mill that closed in 2024 and trying to attract new employers. Harris said a trail already connecting Weirton to Pittsburgh-area suburbs helped the city attract a battery factory that opened several years ago. The new crossing, local officials hope, could bring similar economic and community benefits while making it easier for residents on both sides of the river to reach one another. For Steubenville business owner Maura Barnes, the bridge closure has had immediate consequences. Barnes and her husband helped open a grocery store in downtown, hoping to serve residents within walking distance. She said nearby businesses saw a noticeable drop in foot and car traffic after the bridge shut down, and described the loss as a blow to neighborhood morale. The project has support across political lines, even as the Trump administration has opposed some federal spending on bike and pedestrian infrastructure. Michael Paprocki, a regional transportation planner who grew up in Steubenville, said cycling is popular in both conservative states. The project’s backers say the central question is not whether a replacement will be built, but how long it will take to secure the funding and complete it.