Shenandoah National Park officials have awarded the first contract to improve park facilities with federal stimulus money.

The contract awarded to Firvida Construction of Fairfax includes an estimated $1 million to repave roads, parking areas and trail heads. Work is expected to begin in the next week or so and should continue until the end of November.

Visitors should expect closures in the work areas, but officials said they will last no more than a week and will not be in effect on weekends.

"We recognize that fall is a very popular time for people to visit the park because of all the colorful autumn leaves, so we are working to minimize the impact of closures by limiting work to weekdays only and ensuring that picnic areas, trail heads and overlooks will be open on the weekends," said park Superintendent Martha Bogle.

The areas scheduled for repairs include the Lewis Mountain and South River Picnic Grounds roads and parking areas at Rapidan Road, Milam Gap, Hawksbill Gap, Upper Hawksbill Gap, Skyland Lodge (upper area) and Whiteoak Falls. Overlooks at Doyles River, Dundo, The Oaks and Hemlock Springs also are slated for repairs.

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