Multiple Projects Completed on Blue Ridge Parkway in Time for Fall Travel

News Release Date: October 5, 2026

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -
Consistent with President Donald J. Trump's direction to accelerate rebuilding and recovery following Hurricane Helene and keep parks open and accessible, the National Park Service continues to advance critical repairs and restore safe public access along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Just as the region enters its peak fall tourism season, recent openings mark major milestones in Hurricane Helene recovery funded by the Disaster Supplemental funding in the American Relief Act, as well as the conclusion of two historic Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund projects. Additionally, the Parkway is restoring visitor services at one of the most popular campgrounds in the park. Visitors can now drive uninterrupted from James River - Milepost 63.7 in Virginia to Little Switzerland (near milepost 344) in North Carolina.

"Under President Trump and Secretary Burgum's leadership, Interior has ensured a strong and speedy rebuilding process after Hurricane Helene to restore access to our great communities in western North Carolina and our beautiful public lands," said Deputy Secretary of the Interior Kate MacGregor. "Of the 60 slide repairs required along the Blue Ridge Parkway following Hurricane Helene, 48 are now complete and work is underway on the final 12. We have restored access to 458 of the Parkway's 469 miles, with work progressing on the final 11 miles. This progress is restoring access for visitors while supporting the communities, small businesses and local economies that depend on the Parkway."

"October is an especially important time for tourism throughout the region, and these openings mean visitors can experience more of the Parkway's fall scenery while having greater access to the communities, businesses and destinations along the way," said Superintendent Tracy Swartout. "We are proud of the progress our employees, partners and contractors have made to restore access, and we look forward to welcoming visitors this fall."

In addition to other recent Helene road repair successes, the Parkway has now completed two more recovery road projects in North Carolina:

• Milepost 317.5, south of Linville Falls, to milepost 324.7
• Milepost 333.9 in Little Switzerland to milepost 340.2 at NC-80

In Roanoke, Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway also recently reopened milepost 115 to 121 as the last step in completing a multiyear repaving and rehabilitation project funded by the GAOA LRF. Additional openings in the Boone and Blowing Rock area of North Carolina include the Deep Gap Bridge at milepost 276.4 and loops B and D in the Julian Price Campground at milepost 297. The section around Deep Gap Bridge was closed for regularly scheduled maintenance this summer, and Loops B and D in the Julian Price Campground were closed as a result of Hurricane Helene. The work of multiple crews of arborists and volunteers has restored access to this popular campground. Reservations for the campground are now available through October 30 on recreation.gov.

This round of reopenings follows other recently opened sections of the historic route in the Boone/Blowing Rock corridor. Another historic road reconstruction project, spanning milepost 229.6 north of Doughton Park to milepost 305.1 near Grandfather Mountain, was completed in mid-September. The project was also funded by the GAOA LRF. Final Helene road repairs are underway from milepost 344 to 355 and are slated for completion and reopening by the end of 2026. Visitors can find additional information to prepare for their fall Parkway travels on the park's website, which includes regular road status updates, facility schedules, maps and more at www.nps.gov/blri.

nps.gov

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