A bridge closing in Fayette County means long-term disruption for river
traffic as well.
The West Virginia Department of Highways and the Federal Highways Administration are replacing the Thomas Buford Pugh Memorial Bridge on Route 41 in the town of Prince.
Construction of the new bridge will require temporary full river traffic closures and long term river detours between Prince and the town of McCreery on the New River.
Construction is scheduled to begin this month and the detour will remain in effect until the project is completed next July.
The National Park Service reports that starting Sept. 30 the river will be closed to all traffic for 15 days because construction equipment will be blocking channels and making overhead lifts.
Another 2-week river closure is scheduled for mid-March of 2015.
Park officials say updates will be posted to the NPS website and Facebook page.