Point of Interest
Linn Cove Viaduct
3218 Blue Rdg Pkwy, Newland, NC 28657
As a distinct landmark on the Blue Ridge Parkway, riding along the Linn Cove Viaduct is a breathtaking experience. But this engineering marvel was not constructed in such a complicated way to just be beautiful — it was designed to protect the fragile environment of Grandfather Mountain, an International Biosphere Reserve. Completed in 1983 at a cost of $10 million, the Linn Cove Viaduct was the last section of the Blue Ridge Parkway to be finished, and it was the first bridge in America to be built from the top down to protect the environment. At 4,400 feet above sea level, the S-shaped bridge has 180-foot spans and contains every type of alignment geometry used in highway construction, including reverse curvature. It has won 11 design awards, including the Presidential Award for Design Excellence from the National Endowment for the Arts.
