
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 14, 1994                   TAG: 9404140377
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PARKWAY STRETCH STILL CLOSED

The 15-mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway between U.S. 220 south of Roanoke and U.S. 221 on Bent Mountain - which has been closed since the ice storm last month - will likely remain closed another week or two, according to district ranger Richard Moorefield.

Cleaning up all the downed trees, however, will take much longer.

Last weenkend, about 24 Marine reservists, armed with chainsaws and chippers, helped the parkway crews, and they still couldn't make their way through the mess, Morefield said.

Officials estimate this winter's storm caused almost $1 million in damage to the road, picnic grounds and trails along the parkway.

Want to help?

Volunteers are needed more than ever for this year's annual spring cleanup, scheduled for April 21 through 23, all along the 470-mile highway in Virginia and North Carolina. Call 586-4357 in the Roanoke Valley or 745-9661 in Floyd County for more information.

by CNB