ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Blue Ridge Parkway, which spans 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance near Cherokee was badly damaged in storms generated by Hurricane Helene, prompting a closure of the roadway.
Assessments are ongoing to determine the full extent of damage, including possible timelines and preliminary estimates for repairs, parkway officials said during a briefing earlier this week.
They said there were at least 30 slides — 10 of them major — in various sections of the parkway in North Carolina.
Initial assessments also found thousands of trees and smaller rockslides and mudslides covering the roadway. The Linville Falls Visitor Center was destroyed and other popular destinations like campgrounds and picnic areas suffered significant damage, officials said.
The slides occurred above and below the road and have also severely damaged or swept away the roadbed in numerous places, officials said. Since Sept. 30, 2024, more than 100 Blue Ridge Parkway employees, along with more than 275 employees from 37 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, representing 64 parks and offices across the National Park Service, have been on the parkway assisting with recovery efforts.
On Wednesday morning, the first section in North Carolina reopened — from milepost 285 to 305 at Grandfather Mountain. That section includes Linn Cove Viaduct, which was not damaged in the storm, and Moses Cone Manor Estate, which had damage to its carriage barn and trails, officials said.
While the road is now open in places, some facilities and services will be closed or otherwise unavailable right away.
For safety reasons, Park Service Officials asks people to be patient and respect all remaining closures as assessment and cleanup work continues.
Many areas remain unsafe because of hidden hazards, such as weakened portions of the roadway, snags, hazard trees, and unstable slopes. Unauthorized use also hinders work crews. The NPS is working to ensure that areas can reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.
“We realize how critical the parkway is for our region,” Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout said in a news release. “While much work remains, we are prioritizing our efforts in less-damaged areas that have the most impact for community connectivity, and that we are able to reopen safely. We are anticipating opening additional sections of the Parkway that support adjoining communities, soon.”
Conditions and updates can be found on the Blue Ridge Parkway website.