The National Park Service announced on Tuesday the completion of a more than $100 million rehabilitation project covering 75 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Western North Carolina. The multiyear effort was finished in time for the peak fall leaf season.
The construction project spanned from milepost 229.6, north of Doughton Park, to milepost 305.1, near Grandfather Mountain. Funding was provided through the Great American Outdoors Act, legislation signed into law by President Donald J. Trump in 2020.
The National Park Service and Federal Highway Administration jointly managed the project. Construction crews repaved and rehabilitated the parkway’s mainline motor road, alongside repairs and improvements to drainage structures, curbs, walks, shoulders, guardrails, overlooks and signage. The work addressed long-standing maintenance needs while preserving the roadway’s historic character.
Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout highlighted the significance of finishing the project ahead of autumn travel.
“We are thrilled to have completed this work in advance of the busy fall season,” Swartout said. “This historic investment will serve Parkway visitors and neighboring communities for years to come. The parkway is also an important economic driver for the region, connecting millions of visitors with gateway communities and serving as an important travel corridor for area residents.”
The Great American Outdoors Act uses revenue from energy development to tackle deferred maintenance on public lands across the country. The legislation provided the National Park Service with up to $1.3 billion annually over five years to modernize critical infrastructure, address maintenance backlogs and enhance visitor access and safety.
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