A bankruptcy court may make a final decision as early as Friday about construction of a new bridge at Crossings Mall, Kanawha County officials said in a news release.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Patrick Flatley held a hearing in the case Thursday in Clarksburg. During the hearing, the judge heard testimony and arguments on several motions, including a finance plan to rebuild the bridge from the mall's owner Tara Retail, headed by developer Bill Abruzzino.
The judge must approve the financing plan before construction can begin.
The mall has been closed since the flood on June 23, 2016. The mall was supposed to be sold in January, but a last-minute bankruptcy filing by Tara Retail delayed the sale.
An attorney representing Kanawha County was at Thursday's hearing. The attorney told the court of the public's frustration with the delayed repair and argued that if the judge approves the plan, the plan must have a firm date when construction of the bridge will be done, the news release says.
The bridge contractor anticipates the construction to be 60 days or fewer, once the judge approves the finance plan.
The court will schedule a telephone hearing in the case as early as Friday afternoon to announce his decision, according to the news release.
"The County Commission believes it was necessary to stress again today to the Court that a clear, certain date for the start and completion of the new bridge is absolutely necessary," Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said in the release. "We have stated over and over that hundreds have been without jobs for almost 10 months and are desperately seeking information on when the shopping center will reopen. Therefore, any final Court decision needs to provide a clear definition to our Elkview citizens on the bridge construction timeline."