Benwood Police Chief Frank Longwell and others will be meeting with a federal judge on Thursday to come up with a final plan to remove the bridge between Benwood and Bellaire.

The Coast Guard has decided that the piers do not have to be removed, the value of scrap metal is up by more than 30%, and the concrete decking does not have to be shipped as far away for disposal.

Longwell says if they are able to come up with a cost-effective plan to remove the bridge, the next step would be for Benwood City Council to move to condemn it.

He says this bridge removal project would not cost taxpayers any additional money.