News for riders on the Blue Ridge Parkway...

[Roadwolf]

Well, after trying to ride some length of the parkway two weekends ago and finding it closed at 276/Pisgah in both directions, I ventured out today with the goal of getting up to Mt. Mitchell. Picked up the Parkway at 191 south of Asheville and all was fine for the first 10-15 miles, lots of traffic though. After visiting the Parkway Headquarters/Visitor Center, there was a sign further north warning of rough roads for the next 16 miles... they weren't kidding... they are resurfacing those 16 miles and it was pure gravel over scraped blacktop... bikes in both direction were 10 mph UNDER the 45 mph limit. Once you get to Mt. Mitchell, it smooths out. Heading back to SC was not in the cards going back the way I came, so headed north on the Parkway to NC80 (Amazing road, BTW)... you can't go any farther than that as the Parkway is still closed (and for good reason... winter has devastated the trees on both sides and the damage is considerable... can't seem to remember it being this bad after a winter).

[Lone_RT_rider]

Well, there goes a planned ride to the Pisgah inn on Saturday morning for breakfast. Chris, do you know if you can continue on 276 and double back somewhere to still be able to get to the inn?

 

Shawn

[notacop]

My potential trip to see the Dragon and the BRP in June is looking less interesting all the time with news like this.

If it's any consolation our local mtn road gets closed with each rain due to mud slides. Instead of a 10 miles to launch, I rode 85 miles to the start of a 2 laner for a ride yesterday. That 170 miles of slab to ride around and up/over Mt Palomar. Oh. boy!

[Kinsley]

Not good for some of the BRR routes either.

 

Funny the website for closures doesn't mention any of the closings other than between routes 151 and 191 south of Asheville.

[BMW_Ken]

Not good for some of the BRR routes either.

 

Funny the website for closures doesn't mention any of the closings other than between routes 151 and 191 south of Asheville.

 

For some reason the NPS doesn't keep the website updated on the closures. I planned a route last week thinking there was only the one closure around the Asheville area, but that turned out to not be correct.

 

To get the latest info, you have to call the info line and listen to the recording - (828) 298 0398.

[Bheckel169]

Shawn,

 

You can go through Brevard on 64 which turns into 276 and that road through the Pisgah Forest will allow you to jump on the BRR at the top and you can get to the Inn that way.

Here's a web bloggers description:

 

Today is Sunday April 11,2010

Greetings Pisgahteers,

We are having spring now after summer flirted with us a little bit. It feels cool to cold in the mornings but warms up nicely in the afternoons. Today is gonna be gorgeous, a great day to come up and have lunch with us. Remember, the Parkway is still closed between us and Asheville but we can be easily accessed from Highway 276 out of Brevard, or Waynesville NC. Call us at 828 235 8228 if you need directions.See Ya Soon,

Rob

 

Bruce

[Roadwolf]

Hey Shawn, sorry for just getting back with you but been away from the board for the last two days (sacrilege!)

 

As someone pointed out you can hop onto the BRP from 276, but when I was out there last a couple of weekends ago, the road was "closed", but I don't remember if it was totally closed by those gates, and it is just a couple of miles north up the BRP. And it may be open now, that I do not know.

[Roadwolf]

Tom,

 

Between milepost 383 (BRP headquarters) and 355 (Mt. Mitchell State Park) is where the construction is... don't know the exact start and end point as I was concentrating on getting through the gravel and mess.

 

Chris

[cris nitro]

Does anybody know the condition of Skyline Drive from Front Royal to Waynesboro? I am heading there next weekend with a group.

Thanks,

Cris

[Agent_Orange]

Yep. Clean and green the whole way.

[tallman]

Can't you get to the Inn on Pisgah Hiway?

Or Black Cove road to Mt. Pisgah Hiway?

Then BRP to the INN.

[Agent_Orange]

To get to the Pisgah Inn you have to go up 276. The road was closed just north of the Inn and just south of 276.

151 is also closed to the Pkwy.

If you are coming from the south you can take the Pkwy from the begining till you get to 23-74. Then you have to get off and go around.

[Agent_Orange]

On a somewhat related note.

Several of the rangers I talked to were really happy about getting 'stimulus' funds. According to them it was the first real shot of funding that they had gotten in the last 40 years. I was told to expect a LOT of improvments and upgrades to just about everything on the Pkwy.

[Paul Mihalka]

On a somewhat related note.

Several of the rangers I talked to were really happy about getting 'stimulus' funds. According to them it was the first real shot of funding that they had gotten in the last 40 years. I was told to expect a LOT of improvments and upgrades to just about everything on the Pkwy.

 

Looks like history is repeating itself. From the Blue Ridge Parkway website:

 

"Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2010, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a product of the New Deal’s efforts to provide jobs to the unemployed of the Great Depression."

[ElevenFifty]

Yep - Lots of the parks and roads we riders treasure were the result of the last big cycle of wall street greed and government 'stimulus' programs.

[Kinsley]

On a somewhat related note.

Several of the rangers I talked to were really happy about getting 'stimulus' funds. According to them it was the first real shot of funding that they had gotten in the last 40 years. I was told to expect a LOT of improvments and upgrades to just about everything on the Pkwy.

 

Yes, I'm sure some the Stimulus money will help pay for more rangers and maybe even new radar and laser guns to generate even more revenue

[Quinn]

Could be worse, they could put up toll booths like Skyland Drive and make you drive slower on crappier roads.

 

---