Aila Boyd
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine joined local and regional leaders Monday morning at the McAfee Knob Trailhead to celebrate planned improvements to the popular trailhead parking area, made possible through $6.3 million in federal Congressionally Directed Spending.
The funding will support a series of parking and transit upgrades at the trailhead, including expanded paved parking, new restroom facilities and improved shuttle access designed to better accommodate the growing number of visitors to one of the region’s most visited outdoor destinations.
Kaine was joined for the announcement by Roanoke County Board of Supervisors member Martha Hooker, Salem Mayor Renée Turk and a number of regional partners who have worked to enhance access and infrastructure at the site.
During the press event, Kaine also took part in a symbolic update of several white blazes marking the Appalachian Trail and toured recent improvements made to the McAfee Knob trail and adjacent fire road.
The project is expected to improve safety, visitor convenience and traffic flow at the trailhead, which has seen increasing demand in recent years as McAfee Knob continues to draw hikers from across the country.
