PARSONS, W.Va– Monongahela National Forest is closing several small areas on the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District to all public entry during helicopter timber sale operations in the Heckart Ridge Helicopter Re-Ad Timber Sale area.
This closure is expected to begin during the week of January 24 and could last several months. The closure is necessary to ensure public safety during timber sale operations. When helicopter operations are complete, these areas will reopen to public use.
The closed areas are southwest of Silver Lake between US 219 and Preston County Route 118, Mullenax Road.
Heavy log truck traffic is expected on Preston County Routes 118/3 (Hog Back Road), 24/17 (Norman Heckart Road), 24/5 (Mt. Grove or Short Cut Road), 219/4 (Right Fork Lead Mine Road) and Tucker County Route 14/3 (Kight Road) during times of active logging operations. Use caution when driving in this area.
For more information, contact the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District at 304-257-4488. Information about the status of roads and facilities is also available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/mnf/.