Please distribute this to folks who might need to know about access on the New River. The report follows –
Boaters New River Update for 7/25/01
Private Boaters Access issues in the New River Gorge are improving! Due to the recent road access issues the
National Park Service Will now offer a FREE Boater Shuttle
When: Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays
The weekend of: 7/28,29* to help us all through the road repair time
*Many roads may be repaired by that time – if not NPS will re-evaluate
Shuttle Times: 7 a.m. 9 a.m. 11 a.m. into Thurmond
FREE, FREE, FREE, FREE, FREE, FREE, FREE, FREE, FREE
Where: At Burnwood camping area across RT 19 from the NPS visitors center (river Right)
4 p.m. 6 p.m. 8 p.m. out from Fayette Station (above the rapid – river Left) FREE!
There remains NO PARKING for private vehicles at Fayette Station
Transportation provided by Rusty’s Shuttle service look for the white van
Shuttle is first come first served – All types of private boats will be allowed
For more information call NPS at 304-574-2115 Or Rusty’s Shuttle at 304-574-3475
this report was updated 7/25/01
Now the road report: 41 South is in pretty good shape– this is the road that goes into McCreery/Prince area. Some outfitters have been given permission by the Park Service to put in at the Grandview Sandbar, so you will see some traffic upriver.
Stonecliff access and the Thurmond Road (Rt 25) is passable and being worked on by crews. You should expect delays in using this road due to repair crews working and heavy commercial traffic – be patient.
Cunard has seen progress this week and the state crews will be trying to open this road with a short term fix that will begin Monday 7/30 possibly. The estimate to put in a "bypass" and clear several slides is two weeks. This may mean Cunard access will be available sometime in August, stay tuned for details. The long term fix for the re-opening of this road will take longer but we are encouraged by the progress.
Babcock State Park (river left across from Cunard) is not recommended.
Fayette Station Road River Right is open to the bottom – the state has allowed this to be used as two way traffic and there is a new turnaround at the bottom which is being used by some outfitters. Traffic is very heavy here so be careful. There is still no parking for private vehicles once you get to the river.
Fayette Station Road River Left is under going massive reconstruction. The day use area is almost serviceable and the current Park Service strategy will be to run traffic from the good road on river right- across the small bridge there – into the day use area on river left. This has allowed some to take out below Fayette Station on river left and walk back up to the acess for being picked up. However there is no parking currently available at the day use area and due to the crowding NPS has recommended that folks continue to make use of the shuttle services now provided by NPS.
NPS is working on other solutions and road crews are very busy. All of the businesses in Fayetteville and surrounding region are open.
The number for the WV department of highways is 877-982-7623 (press 4 to hear secondary road conditions) I would call this number to plan your route to the area. You may wish to spend a day volunteering with the American Red Cross as well – they really need the help and are still digging out towns in southern WV. The number for Red Cross in Oak Hill, WV is 304-469-4636
We will keep you updated regarding any changes to the situation on the New. Thanks goes out to all who rode the shuttle the past two weeks – you saved gas and helped keep traffic down on these difficult roads. You also helped out WVRC – Thanks!
Carl Bolyard
West Virginia Rivers Coalition
Development Coordinator
801 North Randolph Ave.
Elkins, WV. 26241 (304) 637-7201
WVRC@neumedia.net
Our website @ www.wvrivers.org