Elkins, W.Va. — The Forest Service will begin road construction on Forest Road 86 Monday, 20 July 2026 to repair flood damage, improve public safety, and restore reliable access to recreation areas and nearby communities. The Forest Service will be closing FR 86-Williams River Road from the intersection of FR 216 to the intersection with WV Route 150 starting Monday, 20 July 2026.
Monongahela National Forest officials and project partners finalized plans recently during a pre-construction meeting for upcoming Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) projects under the Upper Greenbrier River (UGN) initiative. Construction is scheduled to break ground the week of July 20, 2026, at two key locations: the Forest Road (FR) 17 / Little River low-water crossing site and the FR 44 / Unnamed Tributary to West Fork Greenbrier River site (upstream from Elklick Run).
The upcoming work will affect motorized access for the public. A portion of FR44 and FR17 will be closed to through traffic from July 20th -August 21st, 2026. To minimize inconvenience to the public FR179 (Elklick) will be open starting the same day as the closure. Normally, FR179 does not open for motorized access until September 1.
The upcoming work includes the following project components and environmental coordination efforts:
FR 17 Little River Site & Maintenance: In addition to new construction, partners identified necessary maintenance work at the previously installed AOP structure at the FR 17 lower crossing. Trout Unlimited (TU) intends to perform this maintenance concurrently while specialized equipment and personnel are already deployed nearby.
Habitat Coordination: Project managers are actively coordinating associated instream work timelines and methodologies to ensure full protection of the endangered Candy Darter and its designated critical habitat.
FR 44 Site Improvements: Excavation at the FR 44 unnamed tributary site is expected to generate a considerable amount of waste soil material. To maximize efficiency, project managers tentatively identified a beneficial-use opportunity to deposit the excess soil at the dispersed campsite immediately adjacent to the project.
This waste-material strategy will allow crews to level the existing campsite ground. Once vegetation is fully re-established, the effort will result in significantly improved site conditions for forest visitors while reducing the environmental impact of hauling material offsite
During construction, some road sections will be closed in phases while crews are working. Through-travel may not be available in certain areas, and visitors may need to use alternate routes that are longer or less direct. Access to private property will be maintained at all times, and access to key recreation destinations will be maintained whenever possible.
Recreation sites are expected to remain accessible through alternative routes from Dyer, WV from the west. Access routes will shift as project progresses. Access will include access to Tea Creek Campground and Three Forks Trailhead. Visitors should plan ahead, allow extra travel time, watch for signs and flaggers, and avoid entering active construction zones. For safety reasons, vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles will not be permitted through active work areas.
The Forest Service will provide additional updates as schedules are finalized, including closure dates, detour information, and access guidance. Updates will be shared through official Forest Service communications, forest alerts, social media, district offices, and future news releases.
Visitors are asked to respect all posted closures and avoid attempting to bypass the affected area. Updates will be shared on the Monongahela National Forest website and social media as new information becomes available.
About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has, for more than 100 years, brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
