Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that a paving project will begin the week of Feb. 22 on Newfound Gap Road along an 8-mile section of the roadway from Chimneys Picnic Area to Newfound Gap. The project should be completed by Nov. 30, though work schedules are subject to revision as needed for inclement weather.
Visitors traveling on Newfound Gap Road should expect weekday, single-lane closures and traffic delays through June 15 and again from Aug. 16 through Sept. 30. Lane closures are permitted from 7 a.m. on Mondays through 12 p.m. on Fridays. The lane closures will be managed with flagging operations and a pilot car to lead traffic through work zones. In addition, some parking areas and pull-offs will be closed intermittently. To better accommodate visitors during periods of high visitation, no daytime lane closures will be allowed on weekends, holidays, the week before and after the Easter holiday, summer season, or the month of October.
The Federal Highway Administration awarded the $8.5 million paving contract to Bryant’s Land Development Industries Inc of Burnsville NC. Roadwork will include the application of a pavement preservation treatment along a 6-mile section of the roadway and a full pavement rehabilitation for the remainder.
For more information about road conditions, please visit the park website at www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm or follow SmokiesRoadsNPS on Twitter.
– National Park Service release
