Great Smoky Mountains Natl. Park — Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced that US 441 and Newfound Gap Road will remain open 24 hours a day, according to a release.
The new hours go into effect Tuesday, GSMNP says. The overnight road closure is being lifted with the help of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians government and Sevier County partners, including the Cities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville and the Sevier County Government.
The release said Newfound Gap Road will be closed permanently to commercial vehicles for the safety of GSMNP visitors. The two-lane road offers no truck lanes or places for large commercial vehicles to slow down and pull over. Partners will assist with turning around commercial vehicles at checkpoints on both sides of US 441 and Newfound Gap, according to GSMNP.
Commercial vehicles are always prohibited on US 441, Newfound Gap Road and all of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GSMNP says. Vehicles will be stopped, turned around at checkpoints and may be subject to a federal misdemeanor violation notice and fine.
