Blue Ridge Parkway Maintenance

[OlderSlower]

I have ridden the BRP annually for the past 30 years.  Last week when I was there I encountered lots and lots of miles of gravel paving waiting for an oil type spray.  Do any locals know what is happening?  Are they going to pave over the gravel to make the road smooth?

[yogidozer]

I'm not in that area, but is it possible the weather has been too hot or storms?

[Lannis]

I have ridden the BRP annually for the past 30 years.  Last week when I was there I encountered lots and lots of miles of gravel paving waiting for an oil type spray.  Do any locals know what is happening?  Are they going to pave over the gravel to make the road smooth?

I've ridden the BRP for 49 years now, and maintenance is a lot spottier now than it was then.   The pavement often stays "scored" or gravelled until they get the crew together to finish the paving.   Not good for motorcycles.

The worst part is the loss of overlooks.   They've allowed trash trees, not majestic oaks or chestnuts, but just weed trees, to grow up and obscure the nicest views, both from the road and from many overlooks.   Much of it is just like riding down a road in thick woods, not taking advantage of the magnificent views.

I hope they get back to managing it properly.   A lot of it is very disappointing.

Lannis

[Bisbee]

Sad to read this. In 2009 I bicycled the BRPs 465 miles in 5 days. I was younger then. Much of the road had been repaved and all was generally in very good shape. It is a national historic treasure like so many of the CCC projects in the 30’s. I was amazed at the number of motorcycle groups including Europeans that rode the entirety. We should stop giving our money away to tenth rate garbage nations and reinvest in these treasures.

[Motormike]

Just rode about 20 miles of the southern section of the BRP last Sunday.  Like many here, I remember when it was pristine pavement.  Now I was surprised how worn the road surface was most of the way to Cherokee.  In bad need of resurfacing.  Hate to get political, but our countries priorities are such that the Pentagon, Social Security and interest on the national debt suck up an ever larger part of the federal budget. Trump's 2020 budget proposal cuts the National Park Service by 16%.  Once it gets so bad that the tourists (and tourist dollars) start to go away, maybe then some funds will be found for repairs.  But I suspect it will get a lot worse before it gets better.  It's no secret that our countrie's infrastructure is falling apart. Third World Nation.  (I'll restrain myself before the mod does!!)

[fotoguzzi]

careful where you step MM

[twowheeladdict]

Just rode about 20 miles of the southern section of the BRP last Sunday.  Like many here, I remember when it was pristine pavement.  Now I was surprised how worn the road surface was most of the way to Cherokee.  In bad need of resurfacing.  Hate to get political, but our countries priorities are such that the Pentagon, Social Security and interest on the national debt suck up an ever larger part of the federal budget. Trump's 2020 budget proposal cuts the National Park Service by 16%.  Once it gets so bad that the tourists (and tourist dollars) start to go away, maybe then some funds will be found for repairs.  But I suspect it will get a lot worse before it gets better.  It's no secret that our countrie's infrastructure is falling apart. Third World Nation.  (I'll restrain myself before the mod does!!)

Too bad we live in a world that if we didn't continually improve our defenses it won't matter how well we take care of our roads.  I am glad that we have so far maintained superior technical capabilities that keeps more of our military safe compared to 50 years ago.  Superior war fighting capability keeps us out of many conflicts. 

I found the section between Hwy 215 to a couple miles south of Mount Mitchell to be in fine shape.  At the altitudes near Mount Mitchell there was more evidence of frost heave damage.

To the OP, what mile markers are you referring to so I can alert others on the forums I frequent?   OK, on the National Park website here is the construction zones and slated to be finished in November.

Work will take place on the following sections of Parkway, and includes the paved road-side pullouts:

Milepost 175 to 217, Mabry Mill to Cumberland Knob area (42 miles)
Milepost 241 to 262, Doughton Park to West Jefferson area (21 miles)
Milepost 292 to 345, Cone Memorial Park to NC Minerals Museum area (53 miles)

[Motormike]

Well, there's always the point of view that roads like the BRP shouldn't even exist.  After all, it was a "make-work" project during the Great Depression.  If ever there was a road to nowhere, the BRP is it.  Complete waste of taxpayers money. 

[blu guzz]

the deteriorating roads may be one factor in the rise in popularity of the adventure type bikes.

[LowRyter]

the deteriorating roads may be one factor in the rise in popularity of the adventure type bikes.

......and SUVs and private toll roads.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

Well, there's always the point of view that roads like the BRP shouldn't even exist.  After all, it was a "make-work" project during the Great Depression.  If ever there was a road to nowhere, the BRP is it.  Complete waste of taxpayers money.

The economic activity spurred by the parkway and the tax collection involved has more than paid for it many times over

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

The Parkway is waaaay behind on maintenance...  The money to all national parks for maintenance & improvements has simply dried up.

They are now doing some chip-seal type repaving instead of more expensive roadwork to defer maintenance for a few years, but it's a short-term solution.

They are cutting back trees from overlooks this year, but the pace of clearing is still far behind the number of obscured vistas...

This will continue until the government loosens the purse strings a bit.. Sad state of affairs when our parks are allowed to languish like this.

Check out the road surface from Linville Gorge to Mount Mitchell... deplorable.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

https://www.brpfoundation.org/blog/lets-sustain-economic-force-blue-ridge-parkway

https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2019/03/05/blue-ridge-parkway-loses-visitors-weather-repairs-shutdown/2992924002/

https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2019/03/nearly-700-million-spent-deferred-park-maintenance-yet-backlog-still-nearly-12-billion

https://www.wataugademocrat.com/blowingrocket/roundtable-held-to-discuss-blue-ridge-parkway-maintenance-backlog/article_dfd4768c-051c-5ac6-b3f0-49c5d94fa4a0.html

[Lannis]

The big government programs in this country lose more money to waste and corruption in a DAY than would suffice to maintain the Parkway properly for a year.   It's just paving and tree-trimming, it's not rocket surgery.

It's a matter of priorities, not "we can't get the money" ...

Lannis

[twowheeladdict]

The big government programs in this country lose more money to waste and corruption in a DAY than would suffice to maintain the Parkway properly for a year.   It's just paving and tree-trimming, it's not rocket surgery.

It's a matter of priorities, not "we can't get the money" ...

Lannis

It's a matter of playing politics, not "we can't get the money"...  As congress fills with more extremists it is only going to get harder to get anything done.  Each side holds hostage items important to the other sides constituents trying to get what is important to their constituents passed. 

I am so greatful to the CCC and all the projects they have completed.  I have enjoyed many locations because of their work ethic.  That is lost on today's society.

[Dilliw]

On the southern portion the chip and seal sections that they did last year are better off than the old pavement up around Pisgah.  The loose stuff has weathered away and the lanes are marked.

[Ncdan]

I figure they are allowing the BRP to degrade a bit because they are paving the way for the Moto Guzzi  V85TT riders to have a little more fun, our government is always thinking ahead😂😂😂

[rdbandkab]

rocket surgery

  nice...

[Lannis]

It's a matter of playing politics, not "we can't get the money"...  As congress fills with more extremists it is only going to get harder to get anything done.  Each side holds hostage items important to the other sides constituents trying to get what is important to their constituents passed. 

I am so greatful to the CCC and all the projects they have completed.  I have enjoyed many locations because of their work ethic.  That is lost on today's society.

  to all that.   Can you imagine anyone signing up for a program like the CCC today?   

Lannis

[Motormike]

The economic activity spurred by the parkway and the tax collection involved has more than paid for it many times over

True.  My comment was meant to be satirical in tone, but I realize satire doesn't often translate on the internet well.  We should be glad there are not gates at each end of the BRP charging a hefty admission fee!  As far as roads to nowhere goes, it (and it's cousen the Natchez Trace) are damn nice ones.

[Tusayan]

Well, there's always the point of view that roads like the BRP shouldn't even exist.  After all, it was a "make-work" project during the Great Depression.  If ever there was a road to nowhere, the BRP is it.  Complete waste of taxpayers money.

Especially given the ridiculously low speed limits and enforcement that limits the utility for motorcyclists 

Curvy mountain roads don’t have a lot of utility regardless unless you’re a motorcyclist or want to ski.  The best area of roads in the world for riding motorcycles is IMO the Dolomites in northern Italy. Those roads were created largely to allow the Italians and Austrians to lob shells at each other, killing a large number of them. At least in this case there isn’t the kind of draconian enforcement that you see on BRP - the locals by and large welcome the summertime business from motorcyclists.

[kirby1923]

#1 on the Dolomites, I've tried to do a ride there every year.

The Europeans have it right. Out in the rural areas and mountain roads they are tolerant of a bit of sporting speed and the locals appreciate the business of the moto types...we always spend $$$.

Not to start a fight but there is a lot of "poor" driving skills in the states.

:-)

[LowRyter]

The big government programs in this country lose more money to waste and corruption in a DAY than would suffice to maintain the Parkway properly for a year.   It's just paving and tree-trimming, it's not rocket surgery.

It's a matter of priorities, not "we can't get the money" ...

Lannis

I just read here by another right winger that BRP was a wasteful expense by big govt in the first place. 

Poor "Big Govt", right wingers hate when Big Govt does something and doesn't do the same thing.   

[bassa99]

It looks like Dusty has stepped out of the room.   

[Lannis]

It looks like Dusty has stepped out of the room.   

It only takes one.   Everyone else is discussing the issues; one guy decides to start talking about the other posters because he can't help himself.   It's why we can't have nice things.

Lannis

[LowRyter]

It only takes one.   Everyone else is discussing the issues; one guy decides to start talking about the other posters because he can't help himself.   It's why we can't have nice things.

Lannis

Quite the expert.  Keep stirring the pot. 

[Lannis]

Not to start a fight but there is a lot of "poor" driving skills in the states.

:-)

It's a fact.   Just got back from 10 days riding around England on a '58 BSA, wrong side of the road, rain every day, etc, and the normal standard of driving is WAY better than here at home, although the English complain about their own bad drivers.   I never saw one, though- they were almost all competent, courteous, and most importantly knew where their own fenders were and knew how to "give and take" on a crowded highway.   

It's a pleasure riding over there, even in traffic.

And it's interesting to see that whereas 90% of the bikes I see on our roads here are cruisers ridden by guys with fashion-statement protective clothing (which sometimes means none), 90% of the bikes there are ATGATT competent sport/sport-tourer/ADV riders who look like they mean business as they "filter" through stopped traffic ...

Lannis

[Tusayan]

Like most things, driver skills evolve around necessity - you can mostly get away with relatively unskilled driving in the US, try it (for example) in the Alps and you’ll learn or fail. Riding in Europe is fairly obviously more dangerous than riding in the US, not because of driver skills (one way or the other) but because the road system results from 1000 years of mostly unplanned, non-engineered construction. 

Watch motorcyclists splitting lanes down the 405 in LA and you’ll have a similar reaction (i.e. “he’s about to die”) but somehow they survive, having learned how through experience borne of necessity.

Same thing with bike selection - for example you actually see plenty of cruisers in Europe, based on observation during my 30 or 40 multi-week Euro riding trips anyway, but not where that kind of bike doesn’t function so well.  More often in the flat lands.

[kirby1923]

," driver skills evolve around necessity"

There is much more to it than that. In Europe young people have to take real training and have many restrictions before they are able to go solo + it cost about $2K in France typically to get a drivers lic.

In the states you pay a small fee and take a 20 question test that is at least 1/3 about DUI penalties and there is no monitoring or restrictions (in the states where I have lived.)

Even me an old guy ,when I got my FR lic I had to study!! to pass their test although I didn't have to take a drivers test.

I've been riding/driving in Europe for 30 years. (plus  MANY other countries on this planet north and south hemisphere. Some places in Asia and India are downright dangerous, but I never found Europe to be dangerous just a challenge where you need to pay attention.

Attitudes are very different (an important factor).

[twowheeladdict]

It's a fact.   Just got back from 10 days riding around England on a '58 BSA, wrong side of the road, rain every day, etc, and the normal standard of driving is WAY better than here at home, although the English complain about their own bad drivers.   I never saw one, though- they were almost all competent, courteous, and most importantly knew where their own fenders were and knew how to "give and take" on a crowded highway.   

It's a pleasure riding over there, even in traffic.

And it's interesting to see that whereas 90% of the bikes I see on our roads here are cruisers ridden by guys with fashion-statement protective clothing (which sometimes means none), 90% of the bikes there are ATGATT competent sport/sport-tourer/ADV riders who look like they mean business as they "filter" through stopped traffic ...

Lannis

I always scratch my head when I see sport bikes in the fly over states.  They are so bored they have to make up games on the interstates to get any kind of thrill. 

But, if you are looking for a thrill try maneuvering a 900 lb Harley Road Glide around the roads of Tennessee.     I've had to pass some harley riders in my car, but then again I have had to pass some sport bike riders on my 900 lb Harley.     It is more about the rider than the bike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px4ZZRHM4_Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq-4jrXmnWU

Both of these videos best played with a sub-woofer going.