Forest Service Celebrates US Highway 58 Reopening

DAMASCUS, Va., May 22, 2025—The USDA Forest Service joins the Commonwealth of Virginia to celebrate the reopening of US Highway 58 following catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene. 

Located on the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest, this roadway between Damascus and Konnarock was all but washed away in 2024 during Hurricane Helene.  The partnership and collaboration between the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests led to the rebuilding of the road five months earlier than anticipated, marking a critical step forward in disaster recovery efforts for Southwest Virginia.

Rebuilding Route 58 will provide much needed access to Virginia Creeper Trail trestle and bridge sites for future debris removal and rebuilding efforts, which are currently in the contracting process. 

This month, the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests successfully awarded $1.8 million in American Relief Act disaster recovery funds made possible through the American Relief Act of 2025 to remove debris along the Virginia Creeper Trail on National Forest lands. The Forest Service received supplemental funding to repair infrastructure damaged by natural disasters, including roads, bridges and recreation assets vital to rural economies and public access.

During Hurricane Helene, the normally placid Whitetop Laurel Creek transformed into rapids that tore away sections of Route 58 and severely damaged 17 miles of the Virginia Creeper Trail on Forest Service land. 

Following emergency response after the storm, the Forest Service began work with key partners like the VDOT and the local community to rebuild stronger than before. The Forest Service and partners cleared debris and stabilized conditions, as well as streamlined the easement process to allow the VDOT team site access to plan, design, and rebuild Route 58 for the benefit of residents, visitors, businesses and emergency services. 

 “It has been truly inspiring to be part of a strong collaborative effort to successfully address the recovery from Hurricane Helene," said Forest Supervisor Job Timm. “Partners like the Virginia Department of Transportation are meeting the call for restoration and repair with the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests and surrounding areas, and it's an incredible moment to celebrate this success together."

 “Our strong partnership work with VDOT over the years is a great example of finding solution together to make positive things happen,” he continued, “and we are thrilled to continue that partnership restoring the Virginia Creeper Trail.”

The restoration and repair of the Virginia Creeper Trail along Route 58 and the critical infrastructure vital to the recreation economy of Southwest Virginia is a high priority for the recovery projects. The George Washington & Jefferson National Forests is committed to investing the necessary resources to support economic recovery and community infrastructure needs to rebuild for long-term resilience to future storms and floods. 

About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

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