Linn Cove Viaduct Closing For Repaving

The Linn Cove Viaduct closing on March 1 for needed repaving. The Linn Cove Viaduct, a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina near Grandfather Mountain, is going to be closed for about 3 months. From March 1, 2018 until May 24, 2018 this portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway will be closed so the surface can be repaved and maintenance for the bridge can be performed. The plan is for the work to be completed before Memorial Day.

Linn Cove Viaduct Closing For Repaving

The detour will be from Milepost 298.6 at Holloway Mountain Road to Milepost 305.1 at U.S. 221. Linn Cove Viaduct is at Milepost 304 on the parkway north of Asheville. This also means the Linn Cove Visitor Center will also be closed. About 7 miles of the parkway will be closed as well as a few hiking trails. Rough Ridge Overlook and Grandfather Mountain will remain open. Rough Ridge overlook will be open but the trail that runs beneath the viaduct will be closed. Grandfather Mountain will still be accessible by using U.S. 221.

Gates for the work zone will be located at MP 303.6 at the Wilson Creek Overlook on the north and MP 305.1, U.S. 221 on the south end. Within this work zone area, the parkway will be closed to all traffic including motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

The cost of the repaving and maintenance will be near $2 million. It is the first time in 30 years the viaduct has been repaved. The late winter timing of the project is necessary for the needed weather conditions for repaving. Plans are for the completion of this project to be just prior to late spring and Memorial Day. Tourism increases during the spring along the parkway due to the blooming of the various flowers, bushes and trees in that area along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Linn Cove Viaduct project is the first of several projects this year planned for the parkway. Other repaving and preservation projects include work north of Craggy Gardens to the Pisgah Inn to U.S. 276 (Mileposts 359-413) and from Devils’ Courthouse (Milepost 424) to the end of the parkway at Milepost 469. These projects will be done over the summer from April through September of this year.

The Linn Cove Viaduct is one of the most photographed section of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is also one of the most traveled section of the parkway. A traffic counter close to the viaduct records an average of 300,000 visitors annually in recent years. Last year over 16 million people visited the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Location of Section of BRP closing at Linn Cove Viaduct Near Grandfather Mountain in NC