 |
| CHARLESTON, WV – West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) work crews are expediting the replacement of a bridge in Kanawha State Forest. The 20-foot bridge, near the Kanawha State Forest campground, was closed on Friday, May 15, 2026, after deterioration was found in the steel support beams. |
 |
| On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, WVDOH repair crews were pulling up the old bridge deck in preparation for replacement of the steel beams. |
 |
| WVDOH engineers intend to use steel beams taken from a recent renovation project on the Montrose Drive Overpass Bridge on Interstate 64 in South Charleston. Steel in the beams is still in good condition. The beams will be cut and reused on the bridge in Kanawha State Forest. The beams will be laid across the existing bridge abutments, rebar installed, and a new concrete bridge deck poured. |
 |
| The original bridge had a wooden deck covered with asphalt. Reusing beams from the project on Montrose Drive should cut replacement time for the Kanawha State Forest bridge from months to a few weeks. Until the new bridge is complete, visitors to Kanawha State Forest will be unable to get to the campground from the Marmet area. The campground remains accessible from the Loudendale end of the forest. |
 |
| With work continuing in all 55 counties across the state, the West Virginia Division of Highways and the West Virginia Department of Transportation remind the public of the importance of keeping everyone safe in work zones by keeping “Heads up; phones down!” |
