BURNSVILLE, N.C. — A 13-mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed following a weekend rock slide.
The slide occurred at milepost 365, near the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center, according to John Barrett, who works in the communications center at the parkway. The parkway was closed from the entrance to Mount Mitchell State Park to Ox Creek Road.
The rock slide was reported around 4 p.m. Saturday. No one was hurt, and there were no reports of property damage, Barrett said, though one side of the road was completely blocked.
"This is the time of year when we commonly have rock slides because of freezing and thawing,” he said.
Parkway engineers are working with the Federal Highway Administration to develop a plan to remove the debris that protects the safety of visitors and the Parkway itself.
The road to Mount Mitchell State Park is open, but it is only accessible via the parkway from north of the state park.
Barrett recommended travelers use the map on the Blue Ridge Parkway website to find out the latest on closures. “People can see in real time when that or any section of the parkway is closed,” he said.
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