Improvements, full closure Blue Ridge Parkway postponed to accommodate Helene recovery
NORTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Following a request from a North Carolina senator, the planned full closure of the Blue Ridge Parkway to make repairs has been postponed.
This week, the U.S. Department of Interior said it will pause the multi-year Great American Outdoors Act project underway on the Parkway. This is to accommodate continuing recovery needs from Hurricane Helene on the country's most-visited national park site.
The department's action was in response to Sen. Ted Budd, who requested the delay until after the peak visitors' season. Helene ravaged the region last fall just as the season began, forcing an initial full closure due to debris and heavy damage to the roadway, and much of the the road remains closed to this day.
Nearly 200 miles of Blue Ridge Parkway reopens as long-term work remains in North Carolina
'Communities in Western North Carolina were hit hard by Hurricane Helene, and as we begin to rebuild, closing the Blue Ridge Parkway at this juncture would only set us back,' Budd said in a statement. 'The Parkway serves as a lifeline to small businesses and recreation access across the Appalachian Region — bringing tourists, supporting local businesses, and keeping our economy moving. I'm grateful the Trump administration recognized our state's needs following a letter I sent last month. This is the right decision to prioritize the near-term recovery of our region while still ensuring the resurfacing project is completed in the future.'
The full rehabilitation project and associated closures are now scheduled to take place in 2026, and the overall project to be completed in 2027 or later. At that time, full closures is slated for a nearly 20-mile stretch between Blowing Rock and Beacon Heights.
The National Park Service is working closely with the Federal Highway Administration to make necessary project modifications.
'The National Park Service honors the important relationship between the Parkway and the many communities it connects over its 469-mile passage through North Carolina and Virginia,' the DOI said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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