(Winfield) — A popular fishing area in the Kanawha Valley will soon be closing down to make way for repairs and improvements. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says work should begin next month on a bank stabilization project below the Winfield Lock and Dam on the west shore of the Kanawha River.
"Some slope stability problems on the riverbank adjacent to the fishing access,” said Project Manager Mike Keathley. "We’re going to excavate the slope and place new stone on the riverbank."
The work is expected to prevent future erosion and deterioration of the bank. Once stabilized, the Corps plans to rebuild the fishing access bigger and better.
"The current access down to the dam is by metal staircase," Keathley said. "We’ll be constructing a walkway that slopes down the riverbank and goes down to the waters edge. It will run along the water’s edge for a distance of approximately 400-feet."
The new facilities will meet all federal ADA requirements for handicapped accessibility. Furthermore, the project includes the paving of the parking area at the top of the slope and improving access in the lot.
The down side will be fishing will not be allowed on the Winfield side of the dam during the construction period. Keathley estimates the work will take about six months, depending on the weather and river activities. During those months the fishing access will still be available on the Eleanor side of the dam.