ROANOKE, Va. (WJHL) — The U.S. Forest Service has made a decision regarding the Virginia Creeper Trail, which suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Helene.

The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests announced Friday that it had completed its environmental review and decided in favor of rebuilding the trail.

According to the Forest Service, the decision allows for the removal of debris, which includes trestle and trail materials, rock, trash, and other items deposited during flooding from the hurricane.

“Debris piles pose risks to human health and safety and aquatic resources and prevent access to the Virginia Creeper Trail,” the Forest Service said in a release.

The agency solicited public input on the project to reconstruct the Forest Service-owned sections of the trail in Washington and Grayson counties and received more than 300 positive comments.

The trail is open from Abingdon to Trestle 17 in Damascus but 17 miles from Damascus to its eastern terminus at Whitetop remain closed, according to the Forest Service.