The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog: Blue Ridge Parkway Announces Paving Project in Asheville Corridor

National Park Service officials announced today that approximately 25 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, in the vicinity of Asheville, NC and between Milepost 365 and 392, will be resurfaced with thin-lift asphalt beginning April 27, 2020. Within scheduled project areas, park visitors can expect full, two-lane night closures and single-lane day closures and delays. Due to high traffic volumes in the area of this project, the following specific conditions will be in place:

* Night work may take place from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., Monday – Friday, with full, two-lane closures from Milepost 382.6 (just south of the US 70/Tunnel Road ramps) to 393.7 (just north of the NC 191/Brevard Road ramp).
* Day work with single-lane traffic control will occur accordingly:
* From Milepost 365.5 to 382.0 work may take place from 30 minutes past sunrise to 30 minutes prior to sunset.
* From Milepost 382.0 (Folk Art Center) to 393.7 (at the NC 191 ramp) work is restricted to the hours between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

This resurfacing project is expected to be complete by September of 2020. This project does not include a section of the Parkway between Milepost 388.8 and 392 due to the ongoing I-26 bridge construction. As with any road project, motorists and park users must exercise caution. In the interest of visitor safety, park visitors are asked to:

* Check the Parkway’s Real Time Road Map for regularly updated work zone information.
* Plan an alternate route around this area during night closures.
* Expect delays while work takes place Monday through Friday. Lane closures will be managed with flagging operations and a pilot car to lead traffic through work zones.
* Observe reduced speed limits in work zones, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; to maintain safe operations and allow for proper curing of pavement.