Helene Road Construction PhasesAs a result of Hurricane Helene, the Parkway identified at least 57 landslides of varying complexity across nearly 200 miles in North Carolina. Work to restore road access, repair road damage, and stabilize slide areas began in the fall of 2024, and is planned in three phases, as outlined below and also reflected on the map above:
Storm Damage - Project Information Stay informed with updates, timelines, and behind-the-scenes photos of road repair projects to rebuild and restore sections of the Parkway impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Active Projects Location: Milepost 254.9
Overview: Repairs involve constructing a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall to restore and strengthen the failed slope and backfill additional areas washed out by the slide. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 2 - Design, Planning, and Contract Award Stage Repair Timeline: Fall 2026 Location: Milepost 274.9
Overview: Repairs involve constructing a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall to restore and strengthen the failed slope and backfill additional areas washed out by the slide. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 2 - Design, Planning, and Contract Award Stage Repair Timeline: Fall 2026 Location: Milepost 313
Overview: Repairs will involve constructing a reinforced soil slope (RSS) using layers of soil and reinforcing materials to rebuild the failed slope. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 2 - Design, Planning, and Contract Award Stage Repair Timeline: Fall 2026 Damage to the upper slope and trees caused by Helene along the Parkway at milepost 313. Location: Milepost 316 to 325 (Multiple Locations)
Overview: This work will involve slope, road, and infrastructure repairs at four sites between milepost 316 and 325. These projects are currently in the planning phase and specific work is still being determined. Funding Source: Supplemental Disaster Funding Status: Phase 3 - Assessment and Planning Stage Repair Timeline: Fall 2026  Concrete and metal exposed with dirt washed away along and under the roadbed from Hurricane Helene at MP 325.9.  The slope sluffing away from the road edge at MP 325.9  The slope sluffing away exposing the guardrail posts at the edge of the motor road at MP 320. Location: Milepost 317 - Linville Falls Developed Area
Overview: Park facilities near Linville Falls experienced a great deal of destruction from the storm, including the visitor center, picnic area, comfort station, and portions of the campground and spur road. Furture plans for this site are still being evaluated. Status: Phase 3: Assessment and Planning Stage Repair Timeline: TBD Total destruction of the Linville Falls Visitor Center at milepost 317 caused by Hurricane Helene. Hurricane Helene destroyed the comfort station at Linville Falls with sections of the building scattered across the ground. The footbridge crossing over the Linville River near the Linville Falls Visitor Center with safety rails missing and debris under the bridge from hurricane Helene. Broken pieces of asphalt and sections of the Linville Falls Spur Road washed away from hurricane Helene. Location: Milepost 318 (Repairs at 2 Sites)
Overview: Repairs involve constructing a reinforced soil slope (RSS) using layers of soil and reinforcing materials to rebuild the failed slope. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 2 - Construction in Progress Repair Timeline: Fall 2026  Two NPS employees stand at the top of the slope along the motor road where the slope and part of the road washed away at MP 318.5.  Sections of the motor road and a steep portion of slope washed away by Hurricane Helene at MP 318. Location: Milepost 319 (Repairs at 7 Sites)
Overview: Repairs involve constructing a reinforced soil slope (RSS) using layers of soil and reinforcing materials to rebuild the failed slope. Additional work includes guardrail replacement and culvert cleaning. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 2 - Design and Contract Award Stage Repair Timeline: Fall 2026  A large section of the roadway and guardrail washed away by Hurricane Helene at MP 319.  Debris, rock, and portions of the road washed away by Hurricane Helene at MP 319.  Slope damage at MP 319.  Construction underway to repair Hurricane Helene damage at MP 319. Location: Milepost 320
Overview: Repairs involve constructing a reinforced soil slope (RSS) using layers of soil and reinforcing materials to rebuild the failed slope. Additional work includes guardrail replacement and culvert cleaning. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 2 - Design and Contract Award Stage Repair Timeline: Fall 2026  Part of the slope washed away at MP 320.3 exposing guardrail posts.  Slope damage caused by Hurricane Helene at MP 320.3. Location: Milepost 321
Overview: Repairs involve constructing a reinforced soil slope (RSS) using layers of soil and reinforcing materials to rebuild the failed slope. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federallly Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 2 - Design, Planning, and Contract Award Stage Repair Timeline: Fall 2026 Location: Milepost 322
Overview: Repairs involve constructing a rock buttress and installing topsoil and turf. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 2 - Design and Contract Award Stage Repair Timeline: Fall 2026  An aerial view of a slide at the base of the masonry headwall at MP 322 with exposed rock showing.  A slide at the base of a masonry headwall at MP 322 with exposed rock showing. Location: Milepost 323 (Repairs at 2 sites)
Overview: Repairs at two sites involve rebuilding a stone masonry wall, verifying the integrity of soil anchors, intalling a celluar confinement and erosion control system, replacing top soil and turf, and removing debris. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Raods (ERFO) Status: Phase 2 - Design, Planning, and Contract Award Stage Repair Timeline: Fall 2026 Slope damage at MP 323 exposing large ground anchors. Location: Milepost 336 to 345 (Multiple Locations)
Overview: This work will involve slope, road, and infrastructure repairs at twelve sites between milepost 336 and 345. These projects are currently in the planning phase and specific work is still being determined. Funding Source: Supplemental Disaster Funding Status: Phase 3 - Assessment and Planning Stage Repair Timeline: Fall 2026  Road and slope damage caused by Hurricane Helene at MP 336.  Road and slope damage at MP 342.  NPS crews survey slope damage at MP 343.  Roadway and slope damage caused by Hurricane Helene at MP 345. Location: Milepost 344.4, 344.6, and 345.6
Overview: Repairs at three sites involve constructing a reinforced soil slope (RSS) using layers of soil and reinforcing materials to rebuild the failed slope. Additional work includes culvert replacement, resetting stone masonry headwalls, and road patching. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 2 - Design and Contract Award Stage Repair Timeline: Fall 2026  A large section of asphalt, trees, and other debris washed down the slope at MP 345. Roadway damage at MP 345. Location: Milepost 346 to 351 (Multiple Locations)
Overview: This work will involve slope, road, and infrastructure repairs at nine sites between milepost 346 and 351. These projects are currently in the planning phase and specific work is still being determined. Funding Source: Supplemental Disaster Funding Status: Phase 3 - Assessment and Planning Stage Repair Timeline: Fall 2026  Exposed outer layers of rock breaking off the slope along the Parkway at MP 346.  Exposed rock on the slope at MP 347 following Hurricane Helene.  Slide above road level at MP 348 with debris covering motor road and damage continuing down slope.  The underside of the motor road damaged by Hurricane Helene at MP 351. Completed Projects Location: Milepost 224.9
Overview: Repairs involve constructing a reinforced soil slope (RSS) using layers of soil and reinforcing materials to rebuild the failed slope. Additional work includes restoring paved waterways, repairing drainage trenches, and reconstructing pavement. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 1 - Completed Repair Timeline: Summer 2025 Large excavating equipment on hillside moving dirt to begin the process of building back the slope to repair damage caused by Hurricane Helene at MP 224.9. Layers of reinforced soil built in a staircase format used to reinforce the slope along the Blue Ridge Parkway motor road at MP 224.9. Road paving at milepost 224.9 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in the final stages of repairing damage caused by hurricane Helene. Location: Milepost 284 (Repairs at 3 sites)
Overview: Repairs involve constructing a reinforced soil slope (RSS) using layers of soil and reinforcing materials and installing a rock buttress to rebuild the failed slope. Additional work includes restoring the paved waterways, repairing drainage trenches, reconstructing pavement, and debris removal. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 1 - Completed Repair Timeline: Summer 2025 Heavy equipment excavate dirt on the slope along the motor road at MP 284 to repair damage caused by hurricane Helene.
Location: Milepost 306.8
Overview: Repairs involve constructing a reinforced soil slope (RSS) using layers of soil and reinforcing material to rebuild the failed slope. Additional work includes installing a rock buttress, reconstructing paved waterways, repairing drainage trenches and pavement reconstruction. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 1 - Completed Repair Timeline: Summer 2025 Damage to the slope and guardrail caused by Hurricane Helene at milepost 306.8 Repairs to the slope at milepost 306.8 using a reinforced soil slope process. Repairs to the road, slope, and guardrail are completed at milepost 306.8 from hurricane Helene. Location: Milepost 342 and 343 (Temporary Repairs at 3 Sites)
Overview: Repairs include temporary stabilization and safety measures for 3 slides, including installation of geomembrane with sandbags and shot rock, placement of safety barriers, guardrail repairs, debris removal, and repair and reconditioning of drainage trenches. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 1 - Temporary Stabilization Completed Repair Timeline: Summer 2025 - The work completed in phase one was a temporary measure to stabilize the slopes. Permanent repairs will occur as part of a phase three project. A construction worker stands on the motor road above a slope where riprap has been applied as a temporary stabilization measure. A geotextile fabric is applied to the slope at milepost 343 to repair damage from hurricane Helene. Location: Milepost 356 / 369 / 374
Overview: Repairs at three sites involve reinforcing the slope, slope clean-up and repair, shoulder repair, and debris removal. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 1: Completed Repair Timeline: Fall 2025 Landslide above the Parkway at milepost 356 washed away trees and debris onto the motor road. Landslide above the Parkway at milepost 369 washed away trees and debris onto the motor road. An NPS drone crew surveys damage from a slide above the Parkway at milepost 374. Location: Milepost 375
Overview: Repairs involve constructing a reinforced soil slope (RSS) using layers of soil and reinforcing materials to rebuild the failed slope. Additional work includes culvert repairs, drainage trench reconditioning, guardrail replacement, pavement reconstruction, and debris removal. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 1 - Completed Repair Timeline: Fall 2025 Slope failure at milepost 375 exposing the guardrail posts caused by heavy rain from Hurricane Helene. An excavator scoops dirt from a slide site while a crawler dumper collects dirt to be hauled away at milepost 375. A layer of stone is applied to the basket using a reinforced soil slope process to repair a slide at milepost 375. Location: Milepost 380.5
Overview: Repairs involve constructing a reinforced soil slope (RSS) using layers of soil and reinforcing materials to rebuild the failed slope. Additional work includes drainage trench and paved waterway repair and reconditioning, pavement reconstruction, and debris removal. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 1 - Completed Repair Timeline: Fall 2025 Excavators work to remove dirt along the slope at MP 380 to repair damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Workers using equipment apply a geotextile to the base of an excavated slope as part of the reinforced soil slope process at MP 380. The newly paved road, new guardrail and reconstructed slope at milepost 380 after Helene repairs are completed. Location: Milepost 401
Overview: Repairs involve constructing a reinforced soil slope (RSS) using layers of soil and reinforcing materials to rebuild the failed slope. Additional work includes culvert repairs, drainage trench and paved waterway repair/reconditioning, guardrail replacement, headwall reconstruction, pavement reconstruction, and debris removal. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 1 - Completed Repair Timeline: Summer 2025 Damage to the motor road and slope at MP 401.5 caused by Hurricane Helene. Heavy equipment excavates dirt at MP 401.5 as work begins to rebuild slope. Heavy equipment applies stone to one of the reinforced soil slope baskets to reconstruct the slope. Stone is applied to the RSS basket with the Ferrin Knob Tunnel #3 in the background at milepost 401.5. The newly paved motor road and rebuilt slope at milepost 401.5 with the Ferrin Knob Tunnel #3 in the background. Location: Milepost 421
Overview: Repairs involve constructing a reinforced soil slope (RSS) using layers of soil and reinforcing materials to rebuild the failed slope. Additional work includes drainage trench repair/reconditioning, guardrail replacement, pavement reconstruction, and debris removal. Funding Source: Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) Status: Phase 1 - Completed Repair Timeline: Summer 2025 Part of the slope washed away and damage to the motor road at MP 421 caused by Hurricane Helene. Heavy equipment begins to excavate soil at MP 421. Several layers of completed baskets from the reinforced soil slope process at MP 421. Helene repairs completed at milepost 421 near Devil's Courthouse showing the newly paved road, guardrail, and rebuilt slope. 
Road Conditions and Road Status
Winds and rain from Hurricane Helene downed many trees along the Blue Ridge Parkway, requiring a substantial clean up effort 
Maps - Blue Ridge Parkway
It is important to know if the parkway is open before you visit. 
Helene Impacts and Recovery
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida and then stormed across multiples states in the Southeast. |
Last updated: September 25, 2025