Displaying items by tag: smokies news

Newfound Gap Road through Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains closed because of a washout between Sugarlands and Newfound Gap that occurred during a heavy rain event; park officials anticipate it reopening by Sept. 30.  Kenzie Connor via NPS

US 441 from Sugarlands to Newfound Gap expected to reopen by end of September after heavy rains wash out roadway

Katie Liming is a public information officer with the National Park Service.

GATLINBURG — The National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration continue to work quickly to repair the road washout on US 441/Newfound Gap Road. The FHWA has awarded the contract to Eclipse Companies, LLC, and the NPS and FHWA held a pre-construction meeting with the contractor on Friday. The contractor was expected to begin mobilizing equipment and supplies this week.  

Construction is expected to be completed on or before September 30.  

The park responded Aug. 1 to reports of a road washout and landslide event on Newfound Gap Road between mile marker 12 and 13 on the Tennessee side of the park (south of Alum Cave trailhead).

The affected area spans about 125 feet and has significantly undercut nearly the entire width of the southbound lane. On August 2, NPS and FWHA engineers visited the slide and immediately began project scoping. Both agencies worked quickly to complete the required steps of the design, permitting and contracting processes for construction. 

GATLINBURG — The National Park Service lifted a ban March 17 (the ban was originally issued March 13) on all campfires and charcoal use in Great Smoky Mountains National Park put in place during recent windy and dry weather. Campers and hikers should still be cautious with fires.

The original story continues below:

This fire ban will remain in effect until further notice on both the Tennessee and North Carolina sides of the park.

Campers, backpackers, and visitors using picnic areas may continue to use cookstoves with compressed gas canisters and gas grills that feature an on/off switch. Stoves and grills must be attended at all times.

The NPS is collaborating with multiple agencies in response to current and predicted weather and fuel conditions. Visitors are urged to exercise extra caution while on public lands, including national parks and national forests, in North Carolina and Tennessee when fire danger is elevated.

For the latest information regarding the fire ban in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, please visit the park's current conditions webpage.

-National Park Service