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Road Closings 2019-2020 Great Smoky Mountains National Park
officials announced that single- and full-lane closures will affect several
park roads. These closures began on Monday, November 18 and some will
continue through Friday, March 31, 2020, for tree removal work. Closures are
necessary to ensure the safety of motorists and tree-removal crews along the
park’s narrow roadways during the work. Closures will occur from 6:00 a.m. on
Mondays to noon on Fridays throughout the work period, excluding federal
holidays and the holiday period between December 23 and January 5. The work schedule
is subject to change due to weather or other unplanned delays. Laurel Creek Road will be closed from Cades Cove to
just before the entrance to Tremont. This work is scheduled from January 5
through February 29, 2020, and is necessary for making repairs o the Bote Mountain tunnel.
Cades Cove and Cades Cove campground will also be closed during this time
period (the campground closes December 30, 2019, and reopens March 5, 2020). Intermittant single lane closures on Laurel Gap Road will
continue from March 1 – June 15, 2020. During the
work periods, roads are closed to all vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Wears Cove Gap Road will be fully closed from January 29 through
January 30, 2020. Single-lane
closures will be implemented through March 27, 2020, for short durations on
Newfound Gap Road, Little River Road, Foothills Parkway West, and Lakeview
Drive as well as the developed areas in Deep Creek, Cades Cove, Elkmont, and Smokemont. Laurel Creek
Road wil be closed January 3, 2020 through February
29, 2020 For
up-to-date information about roads and trail closures, visit the Park’s
website, Facebook and Twitter. Parsons Branch Road is closed following a washout near Sam’s
Gap, and blockage by many downed trees. Standing dead pines along the road
need to be removed, and is prolonging the road closure. The road is closed to vehicular traffic, but will
be open to hikers and horseback riders who should assess the risk for travel
as they would in any area of the backcountry. Due to the nature of wide
corridor, bicyclists are allowed to use the road during the closure. Dogs on
a 6-foot leash will also be allowed. |
