ASHEVILLE - When Tropical Storm Helene barreled through Western North Carolina, over 57 landslides formed along the Blue Ridge Parkway, closing major sections for months. Over a year later, 85 percent of the road has reopened. While portions were still being reconstructed, National Park Service and federal highway officials celebrated its reopening just five days before the federal government shutdown.

Despite uncertainties with the federal government, Helene recovery work will continue through the shutdown because the construction is being completed by contracted crews — not National Park Service employees — and those contracts had already been awarded before Congress failed to pass a budget by the Oct. 1 deadline, according to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.

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