Parkway Is Back Open

Talk about the power of the press!
One day following the publication of a photograph showing the Blue Ridge Parkway’s “Road Closed” sign still in place months later than they had projected the road to be closed, the Park service reopened the road on Friday, the following day.
Actually, to be fair, the photo in last week’s Rocket had absolutely nothing to do with the reopening, as a released from the Parkway’s Asheville office announcing the opening actually came into the newspaper office even before this past weeks issue was printed.
In an announcement by Phil Noblitt of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the repairs to the Sims Creek Bridge was completed early last week and the Parkway between Blowing Rock and Price Park was reopened on Friday of last week.
The opening eliminates a five-mile detour that was put in place earlier this year while the bridge deck and superstructure repaired.
Park officials said that the short section of highway from Shulls Mill to Holloway Mountain road was closed longer than anticipated because of newly discovered repairs needed at the Sim’s Bridge site.
A longer detour between Marion and Asheville will remain in effect over the winter while a tunnel at Milepost 344 is repaired. The work is expected to be complete by early April. The posted detour directs southbound traffic onto N.C. 226 near Spruce Pine to US 221/226 south, then I-40 west from Marion to Exit 55, then U.S. 70 west to the Parkway. (Northbound travelers who are not visiting Mt. Mitchell or the Folk Art Center should exit at Milepost 382 onto U.S. 70 east.)
Other sections of the 469-mile scenic road are open and closed during winter, depending on how severe the weather and road conditions. For current information on current road closures call (828) 298-0398. Trip planning information is also available on the I internet at www.nps.gov/blri.
The reopening of the Blue Ridge Parkway just south of Blowing Rock will mean faster response for emergency service agencies to the Price Park area and Holloway Mountain Road area, and relieve the heavy traffic flowing both north and south that has been using Highway 221 around the construction area.