Officials hope to open southbound lanes this week after rock slide
From Staff ReportsOriginally published: February 08. 2010 3:01AM
Last modified: February 07. 2010 7:47PM
Officials said Sunday that the detour around a rock slide on the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Spur, U.S. 441, is still in place, but they hope to reopen southbound lanes as soon as possible this week.
“We do expect that probably either (Monday) or later in the week, depending on the weather, we will be reopening the southbound lane,” spokesman for Great Smoky Mountains National Park Bob Miller said Sunday.
Miller said officials plan to re-configure and shorten the detour by opening one southbound lane and leave the lane closest to the most recent rock slide -- which occurred Friday -- closed.
Miller also said there have been an uncommon number of rock slides this year.
“It’s been a really bad year for slides and downed trees,” he said.
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