Newfound Gap Road repair expected by June
By Joel Davis | (joeld@thedailytimes.com)
Work is progressing to repair the landslide that has closed a
section of Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although the
final schedule will be determined once the contractor for road repair is selected, officials
anticipate the work to be completed by mid-May to early June.
A contract has been awarded for the first phase the repair work to APAC–Atlantic, Harrison Division to develop an access road to the slide area, remove debris, and stabilize the slope above the work area. This phase is estimated to cost around $200,000 and will prepare the site for the second phase of work which will involve a complete reconstruction of the roadway. This first phase began on Jan. 28 and is expected to be completed in a few weeks.
On Jan. 25, the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) posted a pre-solicitation notification for qualified contractors with interest in repairing the landslide for the second phase. The contract for this phase of work is estimated to cost between $3 million $7 million and is expected to be awarded by mid-February. Final construction work will begin soon after.
Newfound Gap Road will remain closed to thru traffic during the construction, but visitors are still able to access the park to Newfound Gap from the Tennessee side and to Smokemont Campground from the Cherokee entrance.
A contract has been awarded for the first phase the repair work to APAC–Atlantic, Harrison Division to develop an access road to the slide area, remove debris, and stabilize the slope above the work area. This phase is estimated to cost around $200,000 and will prepare the site for the second phase of work which will involve a complete reconstruction of the roadway. This first phase began on Jan. 28 and is expected to be completed in a few weeks.
On Jan. 25, the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) posted a pre-solicitation notification for qualified contractors with interest in repairing the landslide for the second phase. The contract for this phase of work is estimated to cost between $3 million $7 million and is expected to be awarded by mid-February. Final construction work will begin soon after.
Newfound Gap Road will remain closed to thru traffic during the construction, but visitors are still able to access the park to Newfound Gap from the Tennessee side and to Smokemont Campground from the Cherokee entrance.
