You are here

Home » Construction Making It Tough To Drive The Blue Ridge Parkway This Summer

Construction Making It Tough To Drive The Blue Ridge Parkway This Summer

Share

Published Date

April 22, 2011

Negotiating the Blue Ridge Parkway end-to-end will be tough this summer due to closures needed to allow for reconstruction of the parkway's historic rock guardwalls. NPS graphic.

Cruising the Blue Ridge Parkway end-to-end won't be easy this summer due to construction involving 28 miles of the handsome stone guardwalls that line the route.

All traffic will be banned on the parkway between Milepost 232.5 at the Stone Mountain Overlook to Milepost 244.7 at the Basin Cove Parking Overlook until sometime mid-summer, parkway officials announced the other day. Signs are in place to detour you around this bottleneck via North Carolina Route 18 and U.S. Highway 21 through Laurel Springs and Sparta.

Once the work on that stretch of parkway is completed, there will be additional closures between Milepost 218 near Cumberland Knob and Milepost 238.5 near Doughton Park. While the Doughton Park Campground and Brinegar Cabin will reopen, the Bluffs Lodge and Coffee Shop will be closed for the entire summer, parkway officials say.

This work also will carry over into 2012, they add.

The guardrail work will span 28 miles of the parkway from Milepost 217 to Milepost 245 and involve 32,000 linear feet of historic rock masonry walls. Parkway officials say a good amount of the rock walls are breaking down due to settlement and freeze-thaw cycles over the past 75 years.

The parkway runs 469 miles, from Shenandoah National Park on the northern end to Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the southern end.

Story Categories:

Support National Parks Traveler

Your support for the National Parks Traveler comes at a time when news organizations are finding it hard, if not impossible, to stay in business. Traveler's work is vital. For nearly two decades we've provided essential coverage of national parks and protected areas. With the Trump administration’s determination to downsize the federal government, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s approach to public lands focused on energy exploration, it’s clear the Traveler will have much to cover in the months and years ahead. We know of no other news organization that provides such broad coverage of national parks and protected areas on a daily basis. Your support is greatly appreciated.

 

EIN: 26-2378789

Support Essential Coverage of Essential Places

A copy of National Parks Traveler's financial statements may be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: National Parks Traveler, P.O. Box 980452, Park City, Utah 84098. National Parks Traveler was formed in the state of Utah for the purpose of informing and educating about national parks and protected areas.

Residents of the following states may obtain a copy of our financial and additional information as stated below:

  • Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR NATIONAL PARKS TRAVELER, (REGISTRATION NO. CH 51659), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 800-435-7352 OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
  • Georgia: A full and fair description of the programs and financial statement summary of National Parks Traveler is available upon request at the office and phone number indicated above.
  • Maryland: Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410-974-5534).
  • North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888-830-4989 or 919-807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.
  • Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of National Parks Traveler may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling 800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
  • Virginia: Financial statements are available from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
  • Washington: National Parks Traveler is registered with Washington State’s Charities Program as required by law and additional information is available by calling 800-332-4483 or visiting www.sos.wa.gov/charities, or on file at Charities Division, Office of the Secretary of State, State of Washington, Olympia, WA 98504.

Comments

Submitted by admin on April 25, 2011 - 4:31am.

so when is the parkway going to open. thanks


Submitted by admin on April 25, 2011 - 9:28am.

The Parkway motor road is open except for that section mentioned above where the hisotric stonework is being rehabilitated, milepost 232.5-244.7. Seasonal openings of visitor centers, picnic areas and campgrounds can be found here: http://www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm
 


Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

Your urgent support helps the National Parks Traveler increase awareness of the wonders and issues confronting national parks and protected areas.

Support Our Mission

INN Member

The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.

You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

FREE for iPhones and Android phones.