Date: September 28, 2006
Contact: Phil Noblitt, (828) 271 4779 ext 242
The five-mile Blue Ridge Parkway detour near Blowing Rock, which officials had hoped to eliminate this month, will likely continue into late October.
Parkway officials said that contractors performing scheduled maintenance to the Sims Creek Bridge have encountered unanticipated complications. This has required additional testing and modification of the structure to assure that the bridge meets engineering standards.
The current detour, via US 221 and Holloway Mountain Road, is well-marked and takes very little additional travel time.
With the exception of the two-mile Green Knob Trail and the Sims Pond overlook, all facilities in both the Moses H. Cone and Julian Price Memorial Parks are open and accessible. This includes the historic Flat Top Manor house and Parkway Craft Center, Price Park campground and picnic area, and all other horseback and hiking trails. Access to Price Park is from the south.
For more information, contact Phil Noblitt at (828) 271 4779 ext 242
