Great Smoky Mountains Natl. Park — A big closure for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park's rehabilitation is set to start next week as the $11 million project continues. The Noland Creek Bridge will be shut down from April 15 through 18 to continue work on the restoration, according to the park.
GSMNP received around $11 million in funding from the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund, the park said.
The fund will be used to rehabilitate a two-mile section of Newfound Gap Road near Gatlinburg. As part of the project, some lanes may closed so crews can work starting as early as April 15, the park said.
“We greatly appreciate the support from the Great American Outdoors Act in getting this major project funded,” said Cassius Cash, the national park's superintendent. “This has been one of our priority projects for years and will help ensure safe visitor and community access at one of the busiest road sections in the park.”
A project overview includes multiple rehabilitation projects such as:
- Rehabilitation of Newfound Gap Road from the Gatlinburg boundary to the gate just past the Fighting Gap Creek intersection near Sugarlands Visitor Center.
- Rehabilitation of Sugarlands Riding Stables entrance road and parking area with two new Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standard (ABAAS) compliant parking spaces.
- Rehabilitation of River Road and parking area near the park entrance and Gatlinburg Trail.
- Rehabilitation of roadside paved parking areas in the two-mile section.
- Reconstruction of Park Headquarters Road.
- Rehabilitation of the Gatlinburg Bypass Bridge closest to Newfound Gap Road.
- Rehabilitation of park entrance sign parking, which will include a new sidewalk and a designated ABAAS parking space.
- Repair stone masonry and drainages and replace timber guardrails.
Multiple closures can be expected during the processes including single lane closures the week of April 15.
The park said during the time of June 15 through Aug. 15, there will be no daytime closures. There will also not be any construction work on weekends or holidays. An extensive list of the closures during the project are listed on the park's website.
"The work is part of a parkwide Great American Outdoors Act project to rehabilitate Lakeview Drive, Newfound Gap Road, Heintooga Ridge Road and Balsam Mountain Campground Road," GSMNP said.
The park said the Great American Outdoors Act is part of an effort to address extensive maintenance and repair needs in national parks, providing up to $1.3 billion per year for five years to help improve national parks across the country.