NPS - National Park Service

10/01/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/01/2024 13:58

Winter closure of New River Gorge NPP’s Cunard Road for improvements

News Release Date:
October 1, 2024

Contact: Eve West, (304) 719-6364

GLEN JEAN, WV - The Federal Highway Administration will begin improvements to the Cunard Road (Route 9) in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve starting on or around November 1, 2024, extending through the winter and early spring until around March 31, 2025. The extent and nature of the construction will require a full closure of the road and river access during this time.
The closure will begin just past the parking lot for the Brooklyn Mine Trail and extend down to the river access at Cunard and over to Angler's Access and Brooklyn Campground. Vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians will be prohibited beyond this point. Both the Brooklyn Mine Trail and the Kaymoor Trail will remain open, however trail users should be cautious of heavy equipment in the area.
The project is a coordinated effort between the National Park Service and Federal Highway Administration and involves a long series of road and drainage repairs. The old road will be removed, the roadbed and walls reinforced with improved drainage and wall stabilization, and a new road installed with a stronger and more stable surface better capable of withstanding inclement weather and heavy use.
Travelers along Routes 9, 14, 16, and 41 will experience increased dump truck traffic on these roads throughout construction.
River users should be aware that all restroom facilities at Cunard and the Brooklyn Campground will be closed during this time. Bike and pedestrian traffic are prohibited beyond the end of Southside Junction Trail. The Brooklyn Campground will be closed. All river access points at Cunard, Brooklyn and Angler's Access will be closed.
This will be the first of two winter closures for this project. To stay current on information including closures at the park, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/neri and follow the park's social media sites on Facebook and Instagram.