CNN
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A superb stretch of the favored and winding Blue Ridge Parkway is now reopened for protected motoring and scenic fall viewing following Hurricane Helene.
The parkway reopened on Friday from milepost 0 to milepost 198 in Virginia, the Nationwide Park Service stated in a information launch. The whole parkway had been closed due to injury from Helene, which finally rely on Friday had taken 238 lives and brought about large injury within the Southeast.
The reopening contains 198 miles (319 kilometers) of the scenic byway from Shenandoah Nationwide Park south to Virginia Route 685 – Skyview Drive/Turkey Ridge Street, close to the city of Fancy Hole, the Thursday information launch stated.
The NPS goals to reopen the remainder of the parkway in Virginia inside two weeks, the discharge stated. The entire parkway in North Carolina, which was tougher hit by Helene, stays closed.
“As a result of exhausting work of the Blue Ridge Parkway crews, we’re in a position to open almost 200 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, an important and scenic route that each embodies the pure magnificence and cultural heritage of our area,” Tracy Swartout, superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, stated within the launch.
“Whereas we rejoice this achievement, we additionally acknowledge that important and, in some areas, long-term work stays in North Carolina,” Swartout stated.
Planning to go? Right here’s what you may count on alongside the route, in line with the NPS launch:
- The Humpback Rocks, James River and Peaks of Otter customer facilities will probably be open.
- The Mabry Mill Cultural Website will probably be open, and the Japanese Nationwide/America’s Nationwide Parks gross sales outlet will function from 10 a.m. to five p.m. every day.
- Peaks of Otter and Rocky Knob campgrounds will function on a first-come, first-served foundation till Monday. After that, present reservations will once more be honored. Peaks of Otter Lodge will proceed to function (it didn’t shut after the storm)
In case you’re planning on parking your car and taking a hike, the NPS warns that it has not completed its path assessments, so train warning in addition to your legs. You additionally may discover fewer providers than regular as many employees are serving to out in North Carolina, the discharge stated.
