Davis Avenue Projects (2025)
This page provides information about an upcoming project that will affect traffic flow on Davis Avenue, with work potentially beginning as early as fall 2026.
We will update this page as new information becomes available; the details below are based on the latest updates from the general contractor leading the project.
Davis Avenue Bridge Replacement
On June 3, 2025, Elkins city officials met with representatives from the West Virginia Department of Highways (DOH) and the general contractor overseeing the design phase of the future Davis Avenue Bridge.
The City of Elkins is in the early stages of preparing for the closure of the Davis Avenue Bridge, which is more than 70 years old. The West Virginia DOH and general contractor Mannik & Smith Group are currently designing a replacement for the bridge, which connects south Elkins to downtown.
The DOH and the City of Elkins aim to begin construction immediately after the 2026 Mountain State Forest Festival and complete it before the 2027 festival.
Once Mannik & Smith—the contractor selected by the DOH to design the new bridge—finalizes its preliminary design in fall 2025, the City of Elkins and the public will have an opportunity to review the plans and provide feedback. The final design and construction timeline are expected to be announced by June 2026.
The Davis Avenue Bridge, which crosses the Tygart Valley River, has been rated in “poor” condition following recent inspections and will soon require repair or replacement. The bridge is now slated for replacement under a West Virginia DOH program.
Replacing the bridge through this state program has a key advantage: the city will incur minimal costs for a project expected to cost at least $4 million. However, the city will have limited control over planning and scheduling, as it is a DOH project. The DOH has emphasized that the Davis Avenue Bridge project must be completed no later than 2030.
That said, the DOH has assured the city that it will be involved in the design process, which will occur well before construction begins or any closures are needed. This should allow ample time to notify the public in advance of any pedestrian or traffic disruptions.
