Hurricane Helene damage prompts closure of part of American Tobacco Trail
WAKE COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- A section of the American Tobacco Trail in Wake County will close Sept. 2 while crews repair damage caused by a landslide during Hurricane Helene in 2024.
The closure will extend from the Wimberly Road parking area to the entrance of White Oak Greenway.
The affected section is expected to remain closed through the end of October. During that time, the trail segment will be completely inaccessible.
"Our crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore this section of the trail," Wake County Commissioner Shinica Thomas said. "We appreciate everyone's patience while we complete these necessary repairs and look forward to reopening the trail as soon as it is safe to do so."
Trail users will have to turn around when they reach the closure. Those traveling north must turn around or use the White Oak Creek Greenway to continue toward Cary.
People traveling from the south must turn around at Wimberly Road.
The Wimberly Road parking area will be closed to visitors, and parking along the shoulder of Wimberly Road will not be allowed.
Alternate access points include:
- New Hill-Olive Chapel Parking Area, 1309 New Hill-Olive Chapel Road, Apex
- White Oak Church Road Parking Area, 1305 White Oak Church Road, Apex
- New Hope Church Road Parking Area, 2584 New Hope Church Road, Cary
- White Oak Creek Greenway entrance, 8232 Green Level Church Road, Cary
The project includes removing unsuitable soil, adding and compacting replacement soil, rebuilding and stabilizing the bank with native trees and vegetation, enlarging and stabilizing the ditch at the base of the slope, and installing a drainage pipe to direct excess water to a ditch on the opposite side of the trail.
Updates on the project can be found here.
