Sparta, NC – The National Park Service invites the public to attend an upcoming open house to learn about Blue Ridge Parkway projects underway North Carolina. This will be a drop-in event highlighting construction projects planned and underway along the Parkway this season. The event will be held Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at the Alleghany Inn Conference Center in Sparta, NC, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
National Park Service staff will be on hand to provide a “behind the scenes” look at construction projects underway on the Parkway through a series of photographic and informational displays showcasing construction progress, timelines for completion, and other tools to aid in understanding historic investments at work on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
“Whether you’re a frequent visitor to the Parkway, local resident, or simply curious about the construction, we encourage you to join us for this event,” said Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout. “We want Parkway neighbors to have an opportunity to learn about these projects and have their questions answered about how we care for nationally significant parks.”
Blue Ridge Parkway NC Road Projects Open House
What: The public is invited to join National Park Service staff for informal conversation about road maintenance projects happening along the Blue Ridge Parkway this season. Light refreshments will be provided by The Bluffs Restaurant.
When: Drop in any time from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Where: Alleghany Inn Conference Center, 341 North Main Street, Sparta, NC 28675
Who: Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout, along with other representatives of the Parkway’s management team, staff, and partners.
About the Blue Ridge Parkway:
The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the largest designed landscapes in the country, providing visitors with a wide variety of opportunities to experience southern Appalachian nature, history, and culture. The park’s drive-a-while, stop-a-while design enhances the experience; and whether driving the scenic route, hiking a trail, or taking in a concert or ranger program, Parkway staff remind visitors to have a plan, recreate responsibly, and take time and explore the Parkway’s many gateway communities during their visit.
Funding and project management for road maintenance along the Blue Ridge Parkway is planned in cooperation with the Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). In addition to regular FHWA funding, the Parkway is also receiving approximately $200 million in historic infrastructure investments made possible by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), a concerted effort to address the extensive maintenance and repair backlog in national parks. Approximately 85% of the Parkway’s nearly $450 million maintenance backlog is attributed to maintenance needed on paved roads and areas in the park.
