National Park Service personnel will conduct emergency repairs along an approximately seven-mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina between milepost 298.5 and 305 this week. A full road closure is planned for Wednesday and Thursday, June 12 and 13, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily for patching operations.

While park staff is at work behind closed gates, the road is closed to all uses including motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. The public’s cooperation with these closures helps support the safety of staff and visitors.  Hikers are asked to use alternative access points for trailheads. Outside of the closure hours access to road and trailheads within this section will be open. The recommended detour route around the closure is US 221 to Holloway Mountain Road.

Recent rain events have intensified road surface conditions, and this emergency project is a preemptive measure to address deteriorating road conditions until upcoming comprehensive pavement rehabilitation begins. This section of the Parkway is scheduled to be repaired as part of a larger $98 million dollar project funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), currently in process. 

The best source for up-to-date information, daily road status, maps, facility schedules and links to updated project information is the Parkway’s website and alerts and conditions page.