1

Emily Pauley, Ashley Porter, Lexee Ramsey, and Dayle Slagle / Professor Walker / English 305
FEASIBILITY OF CONSTRUCTING A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ON
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY EVANSDALE CAMPUS
2

Page of Contents (pg 2):

Executive Summary ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3

Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3

Description of Criteria …….………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4

Criteria- Pros ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….... 4

Safety ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4-5

Movement of Traffic ………………………………………………………………………………….. 5

Coliseum Access ………………………………………………………………………………………… 5

Advertising ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 5-6

Criteria - Cons ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7

Length of Building Process .……………………………………………………………………... 7

Traffic Flow During Construction ...……………………………………………………………. 8

Cost of the Project …………………………………………………………………………………. 8-9

Recommendation …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9

Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9-10

Works Cited ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 11-12

3

Executive Summary
As West Virginia University struggles to maintain pedestrian safety on and around campus,

many projects have been suggested to help reduce accidents. Among these suggestions is a

pedestrian walking bridge in place of a popular crosswalk on campus. Students voted and this

walking bridge will be located at the crosswalk on Monongahela Boulevard near the Coliseum on the

Evansdale campus. The following report uses several carefully decided criteria to analyze whether

the pedestrian bridge should be built or whether the crosswalk serves enough for student safety.

Although the bridge is both a costly and timely project, it serves to enhance student safety, help

traffic flow, and even promote the university. Therefore, after careful consideration and research, it

is recommended that the pedestrian bridge be constructed in place of the crosswalk at Coliseum

location.

Introduction

Assuring student safety is the top priority among West Virginia University faculty and staff. A

large factor in student safety is the safety of pedestrians on campus. With the dense concentration

of activity happening on campus, pedestrian safety has remained something that university officials

struggle to regulate. Especially in light of the many auto-pedestrian accidents that occurred in the

past year, with several of those ending in deaths, West Virginia University has decided to act to

protect student pedestrian safety. In hopes to reduce the amount of pedestrian accidents and

ensure the safety of students, the construction of a pedestrian bridge at a popular on-campus traffic

location has been proposed. The walking bridge will be modeled similarly to that of the walking

bridges in downtown locations near the Business and Economics Building and the Beechurst PRT
4

Station. The following report will analyze this proposition according to several criteria to finally

come to a recommendation of whether this project will help improve student safety or not serve to

make a drastic difference.

Description of Criteria

A survey was presented to West Virginia University students in hopes to determine which

Evansdale campus crosswalk students use most and feel that needs attention due to pedestrian

accidents. The results showed that, according to students, the walking bridge should be built at the

Coliseum campus.

The following criteria will be used to analyze the construction of the pedestrian walking bridge in the

Coliseum location: cost of the project, length of time required for construction, amount of

improvement in student safety, traffic interruptions during construction, ability to access the

Coliseum and the parking lot, and promotion for the university. Each criteria will be explained and

analyzed thoroughly to ensure a sensible recommendation.

Criteria - Pros

There are many factors that can be contributed in a positive light to having a pedestrian crosswalk

on Monongalia Boulevard. This is a solution that would not only benefit students bud ot the

university as well. There have been many accidents that have

involved student and pedestrians. The following points are

what would make the pedestrian bridge a great asset to the

university.
5

Safety

A survey was distributed to English 305 students inquiring on two questions; “Have you ever felt

unsafe walking in a campus crosswalk?” and “Do you think the

campus would benefit safety-wise with a pedestrian bridge on

Evansdale Campus?” The results can be found on both graphs

to the right .

The subject of pedestrian safety has weighed heavy on both

students and faculty of the university in light of the recent

auto-pedestrian accident on February 1, 2018, resulting in the death of student Leah Bernahu. Later

the same month several more pedestrians were involved in accidents. On February 20, another

student, Sarah Queen, was struck on Monongahela Boulevard and hospitalized with serious injuries.

Another accident occurred on February 26, just before the West Virginia-Texas Tech men’s basketball

game. This was less serious than the prior two and didn’t result in any major injuries. This not only

caused devastation for these victims and their families, but also caused a lot of negative attention

for West Virginia University regarding the safety and care for students.

Movement of Traffic

The pedestrian bridge would also enhance traffic flow in the area. The bridge would prevent

vehicles constantly stopping to allow pedestrians to use the highway crosswalk. The many accidents

that occur in this area would be greatly reduced with the construction of this pedestrian bridge. This

would be an efficient way to be able to move traffic along while providing a safe passage for

students.

Coliseum Access
6

The Coliseum is home to many WVU sports, including both men’s and women’s basketball games,

volleyball matches, as well as wrestling and gymnastics meets. However, the Coliseum’s popularity is

not just limited to game days. The parking lot is used as free parking for students on weekdays. This

provides a cost efficient way for students to make it to class. Constructing the bridge would allow

students quicker access to classes and provide safer access to fans attending games at the Coliseum.

Having the pedestrian bridge as an option would permit a safe and effective way for students using

the parking lot or pedestrians traveling to a game.

Advertising

If the bridge is added to the highway, it can be an advertising opportunity for the college as well.

There is another pedestrian bridge on WVU’s downtown campus with the university’s name on it in

big, bold letters. The bridge cannot only be a way to advertise the college but decoratively, the

graphic design and art majors could get involved and it can be shown to represent what the college

offers. This would not only give free publicity over time for the university outweighing the cost to

make the bridge in the long run as well as show the work of the students that are educated at the

university too.

Eventually, if funding allows, screens similar to that of the billboard located near the Coliseum could

be added to the sides of the pedestrian bridge. This new technology has been used in places such

as China and has been proven to change the world of advertising. The advertising screens on the

pedestrian bridge would be modeled somewhat after the picture found below. These screens would

allow for upcoming sporting events and university news to be advertised easily. Even urgent traffic

reports could be presented if ever necessary, which would help to reduce the amount of accidents

on this stretch of highway. Adding this new technology to the pedestrian bridge would also bring

the university lots of attention and publicity. Other universities may even model their own
7

infrastructure after this. Although this would benefit the university by advertising sporting events,

latest news, and University Police or traffic updates, this would be a timely and expensive addition to

the bridge. Due to its minimal popularity in the United States, the bridge screens would be

something that could be added at a later time.

Criteria - Cons

The pedestrian bridge would bring the university

safety for its students, greater access to the

Coliseum for parking and sporting events, better

traffic flow, and an abundance of advertising.

However, there are some costs to this project. While the bridge would be a positive attribution to

West Virginia University, the expenses and time allocated towards the construction of this structure

also play a large factor in its production. If approved, a solution that could be placed into effect for

the allocated time would be to schedule the building of the bridge during summer semester. The

summer semester has a smaller populace of students in attendance compared to the fall and spring

counterparts.

Length of Building Process

8

Although the pedestrian bridge would greatly benefit the safety of pedestrians and the flow of traffic

in the area, the building process would be lengthy, and traffic could be interrupted in several ways.

WVU Employees would need to be appointed to lead the project, and outside contractors and

architects would need to be hired for the planning phase of the project. Once the exact location is

determined, materials would have to be ordered and shipped to the site. Galvanized steel is the

most popular material for the construction of pedestrian bridges, due to its ability to hold a large

amount of weight, as well as to survive harsh weather conditions, but it is more expensive than

other materials. The area on Monongahela Boulevard in which the bridge will be constructed is

relatively flat, and will not require alterations. Once the materials are ordered and shipped, it would

take several months for the bridge to be constructed, as construction for the bridge on the

downtown campus went from March to July. The project would begin with the construction of

stairwell towers on either side of the highway, then progress to the construction of the steel frame

of the bridge, and culminate in the pouring of the concrete walkway. This project would be a large

undertaking on the part of the university, and would require a large commitment to a lengthy

building process that could interrupt traffic.

Traffic Flow During Construction

Due to the length of the project and the fact that construction would take place directly on the road,

traffic patterns on Monongahela Blvd might be changed or slowed during the building process.

Areas would need to be designated on either side of the highway for storage of construction

equipment and creation of construction accesses for the crew. Issues might arise with student

parking due to the construction site, as WVU students are currently able to park for free in the

Coliseum lot on school days. Many students depend on this lot for on-campus parking, and other

areas would need to be allocated for this purpose during construction. This would be less of an
9

issue if construction was completed

during the summer months, when fewer

students are on campus during the week.

Cost of the Project

Although this project would ultimately be

beneficial to the safety of students and

the flow of traffic, the cost of such a large

project would place a significant financial

burden on the University. A similar project was completed on the downtown WVU Campus between

the College of Business and Economics and Oglebay Hall at an estimated cost of $1.6 million. This

pedestrian bridge consists of a 70 foot long, 10 foot wide concrete walkway, which stands

approximately 17 feet above the roadway. The proposed bridge at the Coliseum would need to be

larger in order to accommodate the larger amount of foot traffic in the area, as well as the larger

size of the four lane road. Overpasses normally cost up to $250 per square foot, depending on the

materials used. Steel bridges are considered to be more stable, and would be preferable in this case,

but often cost significantly more than alternative materials. It was estimated that the bridge

connecting the Coliseum and the Creative Arts Center could cost up to $4 million in 2008 according

to estimates from then Associate Vice President for Facilities and Services Joe Fisher. Our preferred

dimensions would be around 80 feet long and 15 feet wide, with handicap access and stairwell

towers on either side of the bridge. Oftentimes, the State Department of Transportation is able to

provide grants for large projects such as this one that would benefit pedestrians and drivers. In this

case, a grant could help offset cost for the university, and help for the project to get started. The

larger figures include the costs of hiring contractors and architects, as well as the cost of

construction workers and materials.

10

Recommendation
After careful consideration and lengthy research, it is recommended that the pedestrian bridge be

constructed on Monongahela Boulevard near the West Virginia University Coliseum. As discussed

prior, this project will require an abundance of expenses for materials, workers, and any necessary

equipment and also disrupt regular traffic patterns during construction. However, the benefits this

walking bridge would generate substantially outweigh these costs. The pedestrian bridge meets the

improvement of student safety, easier access to the Coliseum, and reduction in traffic flow criteria.

In addition to its primary purposes, the bridge would also help to promote the university itself as

well as its arts programs. Of these criteria, pedestrian safety was prioritized the most, and because

this project would allow students to travel campus in a much safer fashion, it is recommended that

the pedestrian bridge be built. Although the crosswalk is already in place at this location for

pedestrians to use, a pedestrian bridge will be more effective because of these reasons. Both

students utilizing the Coliseum parking lot and pedestrians journeying to sporting events will be able

to use the bridge for easy access to the Coliseum will be able to use the bridge, while traffic can flow

undisturbed down below.

Conclusion

Extensive and thorough research was performed to determine whether a pedestrian bridge on

Monongahela Boulevard on West Virginia University Evansdale Campus would be great asset to the

safety and well-being of the university. After researching it was discovered that the construction of

the pedestrian bridge would be the more favorable outcome for the university based on our criteria

of pros and cons. Although the building plans revealed the construction would be quite expensive,

the positives of sustaining student and pedestrian safety outweigh the residual costs. The criteria

that was set created a stronger argument for the production of the pedestrian bridge as opposed to
11

just keeping the crosswalk for pedestrian safety; therefore, a recommendation of building a new

pedestrian bridge on Monongahela Boulevard was reached.

Works Cited
12

Fromherz, Fritz. “Pedestrian Bridge Design: 7 Considerations for Architects & Engineers.” Boardwalk Design

Loads and Codes | Design Criteria, PermaTrak, 16 May 2013, www.permatrak.com/news-

events/bid/93919/Pedestrian-Bridge-Design-7-Considerations-for-Architects-Engineers.

Lewis, Joe. “Building Model Bridges Following the Engineering Process.” 84.03.01: The Mexican-American

Influence on the United States, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute, 2018,

teachersinstitute.yale.edu/curriculum/units/2001/5/01.05.04.x.html.

“Made-in-China.com - Connecting Buyers with Chinese Suppliers.” Made-in-China.com - Connecting Buyers

with Chinese Suppliers, Made-in-China.com, fjjcled.en.made-in-china.com/product/uKZxYLvJHzWV/China-

Traffic-Sign-P12-5-Full-Color-LED-Sign-for-Outdoor-Advertising-Pedestrian-Bridge.html.

“Made-in-China.com.” Made-in-China.com, Made-in-China.com, 2018, fjjcled.en.made-in-

china.com/product/uKZxYLvJHzWV/China-Traffic-Sign-P12-5-Full-Color-LED-Sign-for-Outdoor-

Advertising-Pedestrian-Bridge.htm.

Porter, Ashley. “West Virginia University Crosswalk Safety.” Asking Bout Your Generation Survey, Survey

Monkey, 5 Nov. 2018, www.surveymonkey.com/r/6TZVY33.

University Relations | West Virginia University. “New WVU Pedestrian Bridge Opens, Providing Safe Crossing

over University Avenue.” WVUToday Archive, West Virginia University, 20 Aug. 2007, wvutoday-

archive.wvu.edu/n/2007/08/20/5959.html.

“West Virginia University, WVU Coliseum Marquee.” West Virginia University, WVU Coliseum Marquee,

AnthonyJamesPartners, 2018, anthonyjamespartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/West-Virginia-

University-Marquee-2-e1452387078616.jpg.

Wiederspiel, Alex. “Man Injured Following Auto-Pedestrian Accident on Mon Boulevard before WVU Game.”

WV MetroNews – Incredible Rally Leads Bridgeport to 5th Straight Title in Thriller, WV MetroNews, 27 Feb.
13

2018, 13:18, wvmetronews.com/2018/02/27/man-injured-following-auto-pedestrian-accident-on-mon-

boulevard-before-wvu-game/.

Wiederspiel, Alex. “One Charged in Monongalia County Accident That Injured WVU Student, Weston Native.”

WV MetroNews – Incredible Rally Leads Bridgeport to 5th Straight Title in Thriller, WV MetroNews, 26 Mar.

2018, 13:32, wvmetronews.com/2018/03/26/one-charged-in-monongalia-county-accident-that-injured-

wvu-student-weston-native/.

Wilson, Dave. “Monongalia County Woman Dies in Pedestrian vs. Vehicle Crash in Morgantown.” WV

MetroNews – Incredible Rally Leads Bridgeport to 5th Straight Title in Thriller, WV MetroNews, 2 Feb. 2018,

8;06, wvmetronews.com/2018/02/02/woman-dies-in-pedestrian-vs-vehicle-crash-in-morgantown/.

“WVU Received Grant to Build Pedestrian Bridge.” Times West Virginian, Times West Virginian, 27 July 2014,

www.timeswv.com/news/wvu-received-grant-to-build-pedestrian-bridge/article_46183a74-3fa7-54e8-

b2e4-bb5aa2170d83.html.