Motorists crossing the Howell’s Mill Bridge in Cabell County, West Virginia, probably do not realize that their vehicle is being supported by a fiberglass bridge deck. The Howells Mill Bridge incorporates a fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) bridge deck. This material, normally associated with the aerospace and automotive industries, has become an option for bridge design. The two-span 240 foot long steel plate girder bridge is one of the longest bridges with an FRP deck in the country and is the first application of concrete barriers on an FRP deck in West Virginia.

The West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) is a leader in the use of this material for bridge applications. Working with the WVDOT, Palmer developed the design and contract plans for this unique structure.