Deep within the scenic New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, beneath the towering New River Gorge Bridge, a dedicated West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) bridge crew is hard at work restoring a vital piece of history—the Tunney Hunsaker Bridge.
Built in 1889, the Tunney Hunsaker Bridge was the first structure to span the New River within the gorge, originally connecting the mining communities of Fayette and South Fayette. When the New River Gorge Bridge opened in 1977, soaring high above the canyon, the original bridge was closed to vehicle traffic. However, with the rise in tourism and the designation of the New River as a national river, the bridge was rebuilt in 1997 and reopened to traffic.
Now, after decades of use, the wooden deck of the historic bridge has deteriorated, prompting WVDOH engineers to undertake a full deck replacement—a project being handled in-house to save both time and money.
According to Nathan Thomas, P.E., Deputy District Engineer for WVDOH District Nine, the decision to complete the project internally allows for significant cost savings.
“We typically do work for 50 to 75 percent less than contractor prices,” Thomas said.
The estimated cost for the new wooden deck is approximately $180,000.
To complete the project, District Nine enlisted DisForce, a 10-person bridge crew known for tackling special infrastructure projects. Work on the 420-foot bridge began in late January and is expected to be completed by the end of March—ensuring minimal disruption during peak tourism season.
The restoration process requires meticulous attention to detail. Each board is removed and replaced individually, with workers carefully measuring and cutting lumber by hand to navigate the bridge's truss and girders.
Since eight side-by-side boards make up a single foot of bridge decking, the full renovation will require an estimated 3,360 individual boards. To improve efficiency, the team will use pre-fabricated board sections on the bridge’s 278-foot main span, significantly reducing installation time.
“We’re working long hours to get this done in the short window outside peak tourism season for the park,” Thomas said.
The bridge, originally unnamed, was renamed in 1998 in honor of Tunney Hunsaker, a former Fayetteville police chief and professional boxer. Hunsaker made history as the first opponent of Muhammad Ali in Ali’s professional boxing debut in 1960. Ali won by unanimous decision after six rounds, but the two men remained lifelong friends. In 1997, Ali traveled to Fayetteville to celebrate Hunsaker’s retirement.
With infrastructure projects ongoing statewide, the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) and West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) remind motorists to stay alert in work zones by keeping “Heads up; phones down!”
As the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve continues to attract outdoor enthusiasts, this vital restoration ensures the Tunney Hunsaker Bridge remains safe and accessible for years to come.