Before the New River Gorge Bridge was opened in 1977, US-19 was a narrow roadway with several hairpin curves at numerous switchbacks on both sides of the river. The original Fayette Station bridge was built in 1889 and connected the towns of Lansing and Fayetteville, West Virginia. Travel time between the towns was at least 45 minutes and often far longer. With a 65-mph speed limit on the bridge, it is possible to cross the 3030-foot span in just 32 seconds.
Driving the old road south from Lansing down to Fayette Station and back up to Fayetteville was an experience not easily forgotten. Trying to visualize the mostly one-way road as the major transportation link that it once was is almost impossible. We visited New River Gorge National Park & Preserve in late October 2021.
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| View south from upstream of the new bridge |
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| View south from under the new bridge |
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| View south from downstream of the new bridge |
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| View toward the north abutment |
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| One of the bents supporting the arch bridge |
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| View downstream from the Fayette Station bridge |
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| View upstream |
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| Another view of the arch bridge |
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| View of the one-lane Fayette Station Bridge from the northeast abutment |
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| One more view of the arch bridge |
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| Fayette Station Bridge from the northeast |
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| Rapids downstream of the old bridge |
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| View upstream |
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| Side view of the Fayette Station bridge |
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| Arch bridge from the Fayette Station Day Use Area |
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| South arch abutment |
There is no entrance fee at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve website is https://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm.
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