Blue Ridge Parkway Guide News

October 15, 2009

(Asheville, NC) On Wednesday, October 14, 2009, Blue Ridge Parkway officials announced an emergency closure of the park motor road south of Asheville approaching Mt. Pisgah. Federal Highway Administration geotechnical engineers today determined that an inordinate amount of rainfall, the likelihood of additional precipitation and the tenuous condition of the slope create a high risk of failure. The slope failed in 2002 and has been closely monitored since being repaired.

Parkway personnel will move quickly to erect barriers in the potential slide area that will maximize visitor use however, the following temporary closure will be in place until further notice: from Milepost 393.6 at the French Broad river junction to Milepost 405.5 near the Pisgah Campground Country Store.

The Pisgah Inn will remain open and will be accessible from NC-276 at Wagon Road Gap.

Prior to today’s announcement Blue Ridge Parkway and FHWA personnel were nearing completion on designs to stabilize the slope using anchor rods drilled into the mountain. The changed conditions will require design revision before the solicitation of bids in the near future.

Alternate Route Information Blue Ridge Parkway Closed From Route 191, (MP 393.6) to Route 151, (MP 405.5)Pisgah Inn (MP 408.6) is OPEN

Southbound Traffic: 
After crossing French Broad River Bridge turn right onto parkway ramp

• Follow ramp to traffic light, turn right onto NC Route 191
• Stay on NC Route 191, turn right onto NC Route 280
• Stay on NC Route 280, turn right onto US Route 276
• At top of mountain turn right onto parkway ramp

Pisgah Inn traffic: Turn right onto parkway
Southbound traffic: Turn left onto parkway

 

Northbound Traffic

Pisgah Inn traffic: Stay straight on parkway
Northbound traffic: At parkway intersection with US 276

• Turn right onto parkway ramp & turn left onto US 276 Northbound Traffic
• Turn right onto parkway ramp and turn left onto US 276
• Stay on US 276, turn left onto NC Route 280
• Stay on NC Route 280, turn left onto NC Route 191
• Follow NC Route 191 to intersection of NC Route 191 and parkway
• At traffic light turn left onto parkway entrance ramp
• At top of ramp turn left onto parkway north

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Don't take that wrong turn! Map out your journey with these great Parkway maps! You can find maps, informative  guidebooks and more at the Blue Ridge Book Store.

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