Blue Ridge Parkway Section Closed from Storm Damage

The Blue Ridge Parkway is closed to all traffic, including pedestrian and bicycle traffic, from Milepost 376 at Ox Creek Road to Milepost 355 at Mt Mitchell State Park due to structural damage from recent heavy rains.

Three different detours are available. Get a map and specific details HERE.

As of this writing thatis the only closure on the Parkway. Be sure to always check the Blue Ridge Parkway Road Closure Map before embarking on your adventure.

Cherokee and Park Service Offer Incentives for Early Repair of US 441

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the National Park Service are offering up to a $500,000 incentive for early completion of landslide repairs to U.S. 441 through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park - indicating both entities' concerns about the road closure's effects on Cherokee's economy. A 200-foot section of U.S. 441 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park collapsed in a landslide during a week of heavy rainfall last month, forcing the park service to close the road, which serves as the main artery for motorists traveling from Tennessee to Cherokee. The park estimated the 3 to 7 million repair job would likely take until mid- to late May.

To give the contractor incentive, the Eastern Band and National Park Service have announced that they will pay $18,000 for every day repairs are completed before May 15. Together, they will dole out up to $500,000. However, if the company does not finish the project on time, it will cost. The contract with the park service will charge the contractor $18,000 for every day repairs go past May 15. Business leaders in Cherokee were glad that both entities are taking a proactive approach to ensure that U.S. 441 reopens in time for the main tourist season.

Find more NC mountain news updates on the NC Mountain News Guide.

Road Closure Updates: US 441 and the Cherohala Skyway - 1/27/13

January 27, 2013 - North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory is declaring in a state of emergency for mountain counties affected by a landslide triggered by heavy rains earlier this month. Governor McCrory signed an executive order Wednesday for an emergency declaration covering Graham, Jackson and Swain counties and areas within the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian. McCrory's declaration enables the state and local governments to seek federal emergency assistance and reimbursement for costs incurred as a result of the slide.

The Cherohala Skyway is expected to re-open on Monday, January 28 with a temporary detour.  Part of the westbound lane of the road was washed down a 1,000-foot ravine on Jan. 17, forcing the North Carolina Department of Transportation to close the scenic road. The on-site detour route around a closed section of the Cherohala Skyway in Graham County near the Tennessee state line is a temporary fix, but will allow through traffic on the Skyway until the road is permanently repaired.

US 441 Road Closure:Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have been working with the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) to assess damage to Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) as a result of a January 16 landslide. The FHWA has completed their field survey work, and are now in the initial stage of preparation work to reconstruct the 200 linear feet of road.

This first phase of work will include the stabilization of the slide, removal of landslide debris from the work area, and the completion of a path for construction vehicles to access the section of the slide below the roadway. The work is being coordinated by the FHWA and is expected to begin as early as next week.

While the preparation work is taking place, the design of the road repair is in the development process. The road will be reconstructed as a reinforced full slope roadway. The design will allow for the drainage of water which will protect the road and park resources from future damage. This second phase will begin when the initial site preparation work has been completed. A timeline of completion cannot be determined until the final design has been developed and approved.

“We recognize the importance of Newfound Gap Road to our neighboring communities in our tourism based economy,” said Superintendent Dale Ditmanson. “Therefore we are evaluating all reconstruction options to make sure the road work is completed in a timely but safe and efficient manner.”

The park is moving forward on re-vegetating the three acre debris field with native species to aid in sediment and erosion control. This measure will prevent run off from draining into the Beech Flats Prong stream located just below the slide area.

While the access from Gatlinburg to Cherokee will remained closed during the construction period, Newfound Gap Road has been opened from the Gatlinburg, TN entrance to Newfound Gap, and from Cherokee, NC entrance to Smokemont Campground. Visitors who want to sightsee and recreate in the park will still find opportunities through both entrances.

Get more NC Mountain News on the Mountain News Visitor Guide.

Landslide Road Closure Update

January 22, 2013 -  Newfound Gap Road closed to through traffic due to a landslide on Newfound Gap Road (US-441). The road is closed to through traffic between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC due to a landslide at Mile Marker 22 on the North Carolina side of the park.

You can follow all Great Smoky Mountains National Park road closures  on Twitter at http://twitter.com/smokiesroadsnps. Updates are available for Newfound Gap Road (US-441), Little River Road, Laurel Creek Road, and Cades Cove Loop Road. This webpage is updated 3-4 times a week.

At this time, access to Newfound Gap from the Gatlinburg entrance in Tennessee is closed to all traffic due to ice and snow. Access to Smokemont campground is permitted from the Cherokee entrance in North Carolina.View map of alternate routes between Galinburg and Cherokee (PDF file, 714 kb). Additional information about landslide

Alternative Routes for US 441 Closure

Great Smoky Mountain National Park, US 441 (Newfound Gap Road) is closed due to a landslide. Two easy alternative routes to Cherokee are available. The most popular detour would be Interstate 40 East into NC, to Highway 276, the Maggie Valley Exit, then west to Sylva, NC, to U.S. Highway 441 and north to Cherokee. Another alternate route would be to travel from west of Maryville on Highway 411. Take Highway 129 through Robbinsville, NC, then east on Highway 19/74 through Bryson City into Cherokee.

Landslide on Newfound Gap Road (US 441) - Update

January 16 - The first assessment of the landslide which occurred in Great Smoky Mountains National Park along Newfound Gap Road ( US 441 at Collins Creek) in North Carolina shows that the landslide is approximately 90,000 cubic yards of material or 350-400 feet. It is around the length of a football field and 45-50 feet deep. The slide is still active and an assessment team, made up of Park Staff and Federal Highways employees, observed debris continuing to fall.

The park still does not have an estimated time frame for the road to be open. Federal Highways and park staff are continuing to look at the site to assess options for repair and is hoping to have a rough estimate of a sometime in the next week. Inclement weather is expected over the next few days which may hinder the assessment team.

Further updates on the road condition will follow as details are determined. For Additional information contact:
Molly_Schroer@nps.gov

Public Affairs Office

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

(865) 436-1203