RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY
OF THE VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL

On September 27 2024 Hurricane Helene, in addition to wrecking multiple communities throughout the Southeast,
destroyed 19 trestles, damaged several more and tore up miles of surface on Virginia's famous and beloved Creeper Trail.
This website provides a local perspective of the Damascus-Whitetop corridor and the significance of the trail to our area.
Photos show a work in progress. This is not the final version. Completion date is early 2027.

MARCH UPDATE

---

NEW ACTIVITY

Trestle 17 is being removed

A close up look at Trestle 17 as the Kiewit Corporation and United Demolition begin its removal.

Trestle 29 Flyover

Trestle 29, near Taylor's Valley, was washed away. Kiewit is widening the trail and packing it down as they haul rocks further up the valley to repair washouts. You can see the new bridge foundations being built.

Videos by Scott Shifflett
Local resident provides an up-close view of ongoing reconstruction



Shorts by Curated Properties


Videos by Beautiful Virginia
Local residents document the rebuilding of the trail

Link to Kiewit's Creeper Trail Recovery Website
The official project website dedicated solely to the Virginia Creeper Trail rebuild

Kiewit Construction Progress Update (as of March 11, 2026) Temporary bridge installation continues, with 16 of 23 temporary bridges complete, five more than the previous update. Temporary access across slope failure areas is well underway. Removal of approaches and decking at Bridge 38 is complete. Removal of Bridge 17 began March 9, 2026. Removal of approaches and decking at Bridge 16 is scheduled to begin March 16, 2026.

Innovative Bridge Company

The Innovative Bridge Company LLC is providing temporary trestles for Kiewit to let them move their heavy machinery across the creeks.
Here is a link to their video moving a temporary bridge to the Trestle 30 washout.

Link to the page of temporary bridges being delivered

---

Bridges and trestles destroyed or damaged.
Click on the map for a larger image.

Link to drone videos page

Access to the Creeper Trail for reconstruction crews.
Click on the map for a larger image.