Dear Friend,

The Blue Ridge Parkway plays a critical role in Western North Carolina’s economy. Visitors to the Parkway contribute roughly $1.3 billion each year to surrounding communities, supporting more than 17,000 jobs across the region.

After Hurricane Helene caused significant damage and triggered dozens of landslides along the Parkway, reopening and repairing these sections remained a top priority for our mountain communities.

• Phase 1: Complete. 13 repairs across eight geographic areas are finished, reopening over 90% of Parkway miles to the public.
• Phase 2: Underway. Work is active near Linville Falls, clearing access for contractors to reach the most complex remaining damage sites.
• Phase 3: In progress. Contracting is complete and work is advancing on more than 24 sites between Little Switzerland and Mount Mitchell.

Target completion for Phase 2 and Phase 3 is late 2026.

                                                Long-Term Parkway Restoration

Separate from the storm repairs, a long-term restoration project covering 75 miles of the Parkway is also nearing completion. Work on the final section was paused in 2025 to avoid additional disruptions for communities recovering from Hurricane Helene.

Construction is expected to resume this spring, with rotating two-to-three mile closures planned throughout the 2026 visitor season. The project schedule is intended to keep destinations like Cone Memorial Park, Price Lake, Rough Ridge, and Linn Cove accessible while crews complete critical reconstruction.

                                          Federal Funding for Parkway Repairs

Funding for these repairs was included in the American Relief Act of 2025, legislation I helped author as North Carolina’s sole member of the House Appropriations Committee. The law provided $2.3 billion for repairing roads and facilities within national parks and restoring historic structures in disaster-impacted communities.

These investments will restore access to the Parkway, support tourism, and assist the communities and businesses that rely on it.

Sincerely,

Chuck Edwards
Member of Congress