New River Gorge

The New River is like a ribbon tying together all the people, places and events sharing its course through time. New River Gorge National River protects a rich variety of this history: from the subsistence lives of the native peoples and the later pioneers, to the coming of the railroad and the many peoples involved in the ensuing boom and bust of the coal mining and logging industries. You can visit the remains of the former boomtown of Thurmond, retrace the path of pioneer Mary Draper Ingles amazing journey, learn of the legend and the facts of the "Steel Driving Man", John Henry, or read the oral history of an immigrant coal miner from the 1800s.

The New River Gorge Bridge is a steel-arch bridge , near Fayetteville, West Virginia with a length of 3030 feet (924 m), it was for many years the longest in the world of that type. Its arch extends 1700 feet (518 m). Part of US Highway 19, it is crossed by an average of 17,000 motor vehicles per day. Its construction marked the completion of "Corridor L ".

The New River Gorge Bridge carries U.S. Highway 19 over the New River at a height of 876 feet (267 m), making it the highest vehicular bridge in the Americas, and the second-highest in the world. (Before the 2004 opening of the Millau Viaduct in France , it was the highest in the world.)

Construction was begun on the bridge in June of 1974, and completed on October 22, 1977 It was designed by the Michael Baker Company, under the direction of Chief Engineer Clarence V. Knudsen, and executed byU.S. Steel's American Bridge Division Final cost of construction was $37 million (approximately $4 million over bid). Many say, with a little exaggeration, that completion of the Arch Bridge cut the travel time from one side of the gorge to another from 45 minutes to 45 seconds.

With the coming of the Park Service, the natural beauty is returning to the bottom of the gorge .

The bridge, known to the locals as The Fayette Station Bridge, is over 800 feet below the canyon rim.

Road to the bottom of the Gorge

Known to the locals as Fayette Station Road

The bridge is the centerpiece of Fayette County 's "Bridge Day ," during which the bridge is closed to vehicular traffic. Until recently, the bridge was half-open, with two way traffic. Security concerns have prompted the closing of the entire span to vehicles during the festival. This festival includes demonstrations of rappelling , ascending & BASE jumping , and is held every October on the third Saturday. Bungee jumping has been banned from Bridge Day since an accident in 1993. The bridge is within the New River Gorge National River and the National Park Service operates a visitor center at the northern end of the bridge with scenic overlooks and a staircase that partially descends into the gorge.

BASE jumper Brian Lee Schubert, 66, of Alta Loma, California, died during Bridge Day 2006 (Oct 21st) when his chute failed to open in time.He was pronounced dead at the scene. His death was the first that occurred during BASE jumping at the New River Gorge Bridge Day Festival since 1987, and only the third ever. One other BASE jumper was killed while performing an illegal, non Bridge Day related jump.

The local "Gang from Kincaid, WV ", taking part in the 2007 Bridge Day Festivities

Left to Right:

Dave Robertson, Doug Kincaid,Wilkie Kincaid

Shirley Wolfe, Carroll Kincaid, and Wilkie Kincaid

Doug Kincaid in front of Paul McKinney's Edsel