Blue Ridge Parkway repair work advances near Mount Mitchell

The Blue Ridge Parkway is moving from emergency cleanup into a longer repair phase on some of its hardest-hit North Carolina sections, with work concentrated between Mount Mitchell State Park and Little Switzerland after Hurricane Helene. The National Park Service said March 31 that heavy construction equipment will keep using open Parkway sections between Asheville and Mount Mitchell to reach landslide sites, and visitors should expect truck traffic, one-lane controls and delays. The agency says the worst storm damage ran from Linville Falls near milepost 317 south to Mount Mitchell near milepost 355, where crews are still restoring roadbeds, removing debris and repairing overlooks and guardrails. A separate Parkway update this week also showed activity continuing farther north in Virginia, where the agency selected a new operator for the Mabry Mill restaurant and gift shop. ### Where is the repair work most concentrated right now? The National Park Service said the greatest concentration of Helene-related roadway and infrastructure damage is between Linville Falls and Mount Mitchell State Park. That corridor covers roughly 38 miles of Parkway in North Carolina, and the agency says work is underway at 45 remaining sites. March 31 marked the Park Service’s public warning that active construction would intensify on the section between Mount Mitchell State Park at N.C. 128, milepost 355.3, and Asheville at U.S. 70, milepost 382.5. The agency said dump trucks and other heavy equipment would be traveling on open sections to access landslide repair locations. (nps.gov) ### What should drivers, cyclists and hikers expect on open sections? A 35 mph speed limit, increased law enforcement presence and intermittent one-lane traffic controls are in place on the Asheville-to-Mount Mitchell corridor, according to the Park Service. The agency said delays should be expected for travel to and from Asheville, Mount Mitchell State Park and Craggy Gardens. (nps.gov) Visitors are also being told not to enter closed sections. The Park Service said changing conditions, large crews and heavy equipment create multiple hazards in closed areas, and it warned hikers on open trails that landslides, fallen trees and washed-out sections or bridges may still be present. (nps.gov) ### How much of the Parkway is still affected by Helene recovery? The Park Service says all road-related Helene recovery projects are estimated for completion by the end of 2026. On its recovery page, the agency said it had identified at least 57 landslides across nearly 200 miles in North Carolina and had reopened more than 400 miles of the 469-mile Parkway by the fall of 2025. As of a road-status update posted at 6:35 a.m. on May 14, the Parkway said conditions remain subject to change throughout the day. (nps.gov) The agency directs travelers to its road closures and construction pages for section-by-section access, detours and project updates before starting a trip. ### Is the Mount Mitchell corridor fully open again? The Park Service has not said that corridor is fully restored. Its March 31 release said work to reopen the Blue Ridge Parkway between Mount Mitchell and Little Switzerland is expected to be complete by late 2026, tying the current traffic restrictions directly to that construction schedule. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2) WLOS reported on May 16 that repairs were advancing on damaged sections near Mount Mitchell State Park and Little Switzerland, but officials continued to urge visitors to respect closures and avoid restricted work zones. That matches the Park Service’s standing warning that open stretches can still function as access routes for active construction. (nps.gov) ### What is happening at Mabry Mill while this work continues? The Blue Ridge Parkway said May 14 that it selected MM176, LLC for a 10-year concessions contract to run food, beverage and retail services at the Mabry Mill restaurant and gift shop in Floyd County, Virginia. WSET reported the operator plans interior renovations this year and intends to open to the public in spring 2027. (wlos.com) Mabry Mill remains a visitor stop during the 2026 season even without the restaurant reopening yet. WSET said National Park Service staff and volunteers plan educational programs and cultural demonstrations there this year, including blacksmithing, music events and walking tours. May 14 is also the latest dated road-status snapshot on the Parkway’s closure page, and the Park Service says travelers should keep checking that page as construction, weather and emergency events can change access during the day. (wset.com) (nps.gov)