Permanent Fencing Now in Place Across Wheeling Heritage Trail at Gateway Center Site; Trail Users Must Not Attempt to Cross the Construction Zone
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Frank O’Brien, Wheeling CVB: 304.233.7709 / fobrien@wheelingcvb.com
Michele Rejonis, City of Wheeling: 304.639.7364 / mrejonis@wheelingwv.gov
Secondary Contact: Jim Ambrose, Tipping Point, 412.260.5470 / jambrose@tippingpointdev.com
WHEELING, W.Va. (September 28, 2026) – The Wheeling–Ohio County Convention & Visitors Bureau, in coordination with the City of Wheeling, announced today that permanent fencing is now in place across the Wheeling Heritage Trail on both sides of the Gateway Center construction site. Trail users must not attempt to cross the construction site on the trail. The 6-foot chain-link fence, installed this morning, runs from the hillside down to the river and fully blocks the closed segment of trail near the historic Suspension Bridge. There is no bicycle or pedestrian pass-through.
Anyone who reaches the fencing must not attempt to climb over, go around, or pass through it in any way, and must instead turn around and follow the posted detour. Signs mounted on both sides of the fencing note that the area is monitored by security cameras and that trespassers will be prosecuted.
The trail segment closed on Thursday, September 24, 2026, as announced by the City of Wheeling. The closure is a mandatory safety requirement so construction crews can safely begin the extensive site work needed to rebuild the hillside between the historic Suspension Bridge, downtown Main Street and the riverfront trail. The elevation change is roughly 40 feet, and crews will move a substantial volume of earth, construct new retaining walls, and build an elevator tower that will provide a future accessible route from the historic Wheeling Suspension Bridge and the Gateway Center down to the waterfront trail.
Work for this portion of the project is expected to happen until early summer of 2027. Special accommodations will be made for the region’s annual Ogden Wellness Weekend, which is scheduled to occur in May of 2027.
Pedestrian and bicycle traffic on this segment of the trail will not be permitted until the hillside, retaining-wall, and trail-connection work is finished and the path can reopen safely. Trail users should follow the detour shown on signs posted along the trail.
Sidewalks immediately around the Gateway Center site are also closed, and no pedestrian pass-through traffic is permitted. Pedestrians must cross to the other side of Main Street.
There is no public parking around the perimeter of the construction site.
“We want to thank the City of Wheeling for the partnership and the close collaboration on these logistics,” said Frank O’Brien, Executive Director of the Wheeling–Ohio County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Closing a stretch of trail beside the historic Suspension Bridge is an inconvenience, and we do not take that lightly.”
O’Brien continued, “In the short term, we are asking walkers and riders to stay away from the site and follow the City-approved detour. This is how we can deliver the community’s highest priority from our 2024 community engagement sessions, which is a direct connection from the Historic Suspension Bridge, the new Gateway Center and down to the Heritage Trail, including an accessible route that does not exist on this bank today. This will make our destination one of the most accessible stops along the I-70 corridor and create one of the best historical and waterfront experiences for both our residents and visitors for many years to come.” PEDESTRIAN DETOUR ROUTE
Pedestrians traveling the Wheeling Heritage Trail through downtown should leave the trail at 11th Street, walk north on Main Street, and return to the trail using the stairs at 8th Street. Pedestrians heading south should do the reverse, leaving the trail at the 8th Street stairs and returning at 11th Street. Because the 8th Street access is stairs only, pedestrians using wheeled equipment, such as wheelchairs or strollers, should continue on Main Street to the 5th Street entrance.
Signs are posted at Heritage Trail intersections at:
12th Street — advance notice at the Heritage Port Archway.
11th Street — notice at the trail intersection and the start of the on-street detour.
8th Street — notice at the trail intersection. This access is stairs only.
5th Street — additional signs warning that the trail is closed near the Gateway site and that wheeled users must not continue south toward the construction zone, as the only means to exit the trail will be the stairs on 8th Street.
CRITICAL SAFETY NOTE: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS THE CONSTRUCTION SITE
With the fencing in place, there is no way through the work zone. Do not attempt to cross the construction site on the trail. Anyone who reaches the fence must turn around and exit the way they came.
The 8th Street entrance to the Heritage Trail is stairs only, and there is no ramped exit between 5th Street and the construction fence. Anyone using wheeled equipment, including bicycles, e-bikes, strollers, wagons, roller devices, or wheelchairs, should not continue south past 5th Street toward the Gateway site.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE WORK
Since demolition of the former Wheeling Inn finished in early 2025, the live site camera is the top feature people following this project have asked for.
Beginning Monday, September 28, 2026, a new camera angle will be posted at:
Anyone can watch the hillside work, the new retaining walls, and the trail connection take shape next to the historic Suspension Bridge.
The project team will also post weekly community updates as construction progresses on site.
To subscribe to the project newsletter for weekly progress updates, view project renderings, or submit a question about the trail detour, visit https://wheelinggateway.tippingpointdev.com/.
About the Wheeling-Ohio County Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Wheeling-Ohio County CVB works to grow tourism and support the local economy by promoting the region’s history, outdoor recreation, arts, and hospitality.
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