This definitely provides a case for Bruce.
The entire 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway will be closed indefinitely as crews assess the “catastrophic” damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helen, the National Park Service says. Ta.
Coined “America's Favorite Drive” for its scenic beauty, this iconic road stretches from Virginia's Shenandoah National Park to North Carolina's Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
It is the most visited national park in the United States, with 16.7 million visitors in 2023.
The damage could be “catastrophic” in some cases, the National Park Service said. The most severe destruction on the parkway stretches from milepost 280 to milepost 469, Cardinal News reported.
The National Park Service previously closed the parkway through North Carolina. But now, the closure has been extended to Virginia, Cardinal News reported.
Blue Ridge Parkway staff received reinforcements Thursday, with 250 National Park Service employees from 32 states and Washington, D.C. participating in recovery efforts, according to a news bulletin on the National Park Service website.
Investigators are still finishing up their work in Virginia, and a “schedule and cost estimate” for the parkway repairs will be determined “in the coming weeks,” the news outlet said.
The Blue Ridge Parkway announcement comes on the heels of the closure of another national treasure.
The U.S. Forest Service announced earlier this week that more than 90 miles of the Appalachian Trail through Virginia would be closed until further notice. Trail managers asked hikers to avoid longer sections. Cardinal News reported that the route will be changed until the hurricane's damage can be fully assessed.
