The Daily Times

The construction hampering traffic at the Townsend entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park has, for the most part, ended.

Traffic is again flowing in and out of the Park at regular speeds and in both lanes. There is no longer a signal controlling traffic. There are no more road-narrowing barriers.

The new bridge across the Little River at Stables Drive is finished and open for traffic. Tennessee Department of Transportation spokesman Mark Nagi said all that is left to do is some apron repaving along the sides of the road, and that will wait for the proper weather to allow asphalt work.

During construction, crews sometimes had to close one lane of Little River Road (Scenic Tenn. 73) into the Park and use temporary signals to direct traffic.

TDOT awarded the $94,115 contract to Blalock Construction of Sevierville and work started in March 2011.

The original completion date was Aug. 31, 2011. However, due to utility delays TDOT added 155 days to the contract, which changed the completion date to Feb. 2.

When construction plans for the bridge project were revealed in the spring of 2011, business owners and residents, along with city and county officials, expressed concern that major traffic tie-ups would result if TDOT made Little River Road one lane throughout the busy summer tourist season, as originally planned.

In response, TDOT met with the construction company and determined it could open two travel lanes when the contractor was not present and when work was being done on the opposite side of the river.

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