ELKINS, W.Va. (WVDN) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service is restricting public access to sections of Forest Road 76, commonly referred to as Cranberry River Road, within the Monongahela National Forest to protect public health and safety during construction activities. The closure order will go into effect on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 12:01 AM and remain in effect until November 20, 2026, or until rescinded.
Order Number 09-21-02-26-05 prohibits all members of the public from being on Forest Road 76 in places beyond any road-construction barriers, including Type 3 barricades, lighted signage, traffic cones, or similar devices placed to restrict public access.
Closures will occur in two stages. Closure Area Section 1 as shown in Exhibit A will be closed starting September 8, 2026, for approximately 4 weeks. Once construction activities are completed, the Closure Area Section 2 as shown in Exhibit B will begin.
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 brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and recreation opportunities. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the nation’s forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private landowners and working with tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S.
