Temporary full closure of Splendor Valley Road Feb. 21 for bridge replacement

Crews with the West Virginia Department of Highways will fully close Splendor Valley Road (County Route 1/7) at mile marker 0.11 in the Litwar area of McDowell County on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, with work scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to replace a short span bridge, officials told WVNS and WVVA. The closure is described as a temporary full closure to allow crews to complete the short span bridge replacement project.

Access to the roadway will be limited during the 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. window. WVVA notes, “While most of the road will be inaccessible during this time, motorists can still access the road from Litwar Branch Road, County Route 1/5, up to mile marker 0.10.” That access point at the intersection of Litwar Branch Road and County Route 1/7 is the only portion of Splendor Valley Road that will remain open during the replacement.

Local outlets and the press release advising the public have urged drivers to adjust travel plans for the closure. A press release reported by WVNS said, “Drivers should plan ahead and expect delays. Weather could affect the exact schedule.” WVVA urged extra caution in its advisory, writing, “Drivers in McDowell County should plan for significant travel disruptions this Saturday as construction work forces a full closure of Splendor Valley Road.”

Officials and news outlets emphasize that the timetable is weather-dependent. WVVA states, “The schedule for the work is dependent on weather conditions, so conditions could change if rain or other weather events occur.” Bdtonline’s community page, which posted a notice updated Feb. 18, 2026 at 12:05 a.m., shows a local forecast for the region with a 60 percent chance of rain and a high near 57 degrees Fahrenheit for nearby Bluefield, suggesting conditions could influence whether crews meet the planned 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. window on Feb. 21.

The closure notice and operational details have been reported by multiple regional outlets. The initial scheduling language and the reason for the work appear in the WVNS dispatch republished by Yahoo, while WVVA published the full advisories on the timing, access limits and weather caveat. Bdtonline carried a community notice confirming the mile marker 0.11 closure and the limited access to mile marker 0.10 from Litwar Branch Road.

Motorists who travel through Litwar and along Splendor Valley Road on weekends should identify alternate routes before Saturday and allow extra travel time on Feb. 21, 2026, as the one-day, short span bridge replacement is expected to make most of County Route 1/7 inaccessible during the posted hours.