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Contact: Eve West, 304-719-6364 Fayetteville, WV – New River Gorge National River staff announce that work has begun to improve and rehabilitate sections of the park’s popular Long Point trail located between Fayetteville and Oak Hill.“We are very excited about this project,” states Superintendent Lizzie Watts. “Once work is complete there will be a wheelchair accessible causeway that leads to a platform overlooking a meadow for viewing birds and other wildlife.” In addition to the ABA compliant deck and walkway, work crews will address drainage and safety issues that have developed over the years due to the trail’s popularity and tremendous use. Additional water bars, raised wooden causeways and tread, and in some cases, trail reroutes will provide a safer experience for hikers with less impact to the resource. New interpretive displays will be installed on the deck and along the trail and improvements will be made to the parking area including accessible parking, removal of boulders and vegetation for visibility and planting of native species in some areas for privacy of local residents. For the safety of park visitors, trailhead parking at Long Point will be closed to public access on Mondays at 6 am until Thursdays at 5 pm. Construction equipment and materials will be stored here during this time. Parking along Newton Road is also prohibited with risk of towing for non-compliance. Much of the trail, including the viewing area at the end, will remain accessible throughout the project from the Butcher Branch and Fayetteville trailheads, although there will be some periods where trail intersections will also be closed. Visitors are asked to not walk reroutes until the project is complete. Closures will begin Monday, June 19 with project completion anticipated to run no longer than late September. During this period the parking lot will be open Thursday evening after 5 pm until Monday morning at 6 am. Updates to closures will be posted on park social media sites and at trailheads. |
Last updated: June 16, 2017