BURKE’S GARDEN, Va. – Leaders in Tazewell County are working to address a damaged roadway in the Burke’s Garden area of the county.
Burke’s Garden Road is the only way into the community and severe weather from Hurricane Helene left parts of the road severely damaged last Friday. Parts of the roadway are impassable and some of the roadway is now only single lane.
Aaron Gillespie represents the area on the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors and says the road is treacherous for regular travel and no longer suitable for farmers with large vehicles who depend on the road for moving livestock.
Gillespie says the county is coordinating with the Virginia Department of Transportation to have the roadway fixed. Gillespie says they’re also working on possibly opening Round Mountain Road if Burke’s Garden Road suffers a total collapse.
Gillespie says Round Mountain Road is currently under the control of the U.S. Forestry Service.
“We have received confirmation that the road is passable. I’m still waiting to hear what types of vehicles can pass on that road in the event of an emergency,” said Gillespie. “Those kind of talks and negotiations are ongoing and I think we’ll be able to secure a safe place for residents to go should anything else happen to the Burke’s Garden Road.”
Gillespie says the county is working with VDOT to get crews to work on Burke’s Garden Road as quickly as possible. While the roadway is open, he says he would advise people not to travel Burke’s Garden Road unless they live in the community.
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