Parkway paving planned for 2019
More than 115 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway will be resurfaced this year as part of a pavement preservation program.
Work will take place on miles 292 to 345, stretching from Cone Memorial Park to the N.C. Minerals Museum area. Other work sections will be miles 175 to 217 and miles 241 to 262.
Last year paving focused on the Western North Carolina area, including sections between milepost 359 and the Parkway’s terminus in Cherokee.
Work in 2019 will start late May and continue through November, with no work scheduled in October. Single lane closures and delays will occur while work is in progress.
Pavement preservation is becoming a regular road maintenance strategy in national parks. Studies find that for each dollar spent on pavement preservation between $6 and $10 in future pavement rehabilitation costs are saved. Funding for road maintenance in national parks, including the Parkway, comes in large part from the Highway Trust Fund, which is derived from a federal gas tax managed by the Federal Highway Administration.