PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — The Jake Thoms Connector, a new two-mile road connecting Veterans Boulevard to the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, is now officially open.
City leaders and the Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner cut the ribbon for the road Tuesday. Even though it opened to traffic at the beginning of April, the connector is walkable with sidewalks on both sides of the road.
The TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley said the project is important to all parts of the community.
"We know that we have millions of tourists coming into this community every single year and we want them to have a good experience and part of that experience is getting them to where they are going on time," Eley said.
The connector gives drivers a more direct route from shopping, entertainment, Dollywood and its resorts. There are also numerous ADA-compliant ramps throughout the sidewalk to accommodate people with disabilities and bicyclists, TDOT said.
Eley also said the project stayed on time and on budget.
Construction on the connector started in April 2022.