News Release

National Park Service to Replace Bridge at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

NPS Photo

News Release Date: February 18, 2026

Contact: Lisa Baldwin

Contact: Jody May

MIDDLESBORO, Ky. — In late February, the National Park Service will begin work to replace the Little Yellow Creek Bridge on Bartlett Park Road. Bartlett Park will remain open and accessible, but visitors will see and hear construction activities. The road and areas south of the bridge, including Marsee Cemetery, will not be accessible during construction.

The construction project will also repair a culvert on Pinnacle Road, just west of Bartlett Park Road. These culvert repairs will not affect visitor access. Project work schedules are subject to change due to weather.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park preserves the historic Cumberland Gap, a key point for crossing the Appalachians that became known as the First Gateway to the West. Located where Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia meet, the park’s 24,000 acres includes 85 miles of hiking trails, front and backcountry camping, a historic Appalachian settlement, cave and rock formations and 14,000 acres of managed wilderness. The visitor center in Middlesboro, Kentucky, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Entrance is free. For more information visit our website or Facebook page.

www.nps.gov