Repair work begins on bridges across GSMNP

(GSMNP press release) Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that the Federal Highway Administration awarded a construction contract to conduct routine bridge repairs at 19 locations across the park through August 2023. Crews will implement single-lane closures in most locations to safely accomplish work, however, full road closures will be necessary at a few, select sites.

“Work activity is likely to inconvenience motorists on busy days, however, closures are expected to be in place for less than a week at each of the 19 bridge locations,” said Facility Management Division Chief Barbara Hatcher. “We remind motorists to slow down when traveling through work sites to protect workers.” 

The routine improvements include bridge joint repairs, stone masonry repair, railing replacement, and deck replacement. Single-lane closures will occur along the following roadways, near select bridges, through August 2023:

  • the Spur,
  • Gatlinburg Bypass,
  • Little River Road,
  • Tremont,
  • Laurel Creek Road,
  • Newfound Gap Road,
  • Smokemont,
  • and Deep Creek.

Short-duration, full-road closures will occur in the following areas:

  • Greenbrier (Ramsey Prong Road),
  • Tremont (gravel road section),
  • Big Creek,
  • and Cataloochee.

The park will announce specific dates for the temporary, full road closures when work schedules are finalized. Most of the planned repair work requires minimal equipment and is anticipated to be accomplished within a week at each location.

The Federal Highway administration awarded the $1.3 million contract to Bryant’s Land and Development Industries, Inc. of Burnsville, NC to repair the bridges. For more information about road closures, please visit the park’s Current Road, Facility, Trail and Backcountry Updates web page.

About Jim Harris

Jim Harris has been WYSH's News & Sports Director since 2000. In addition to reporting local news, he is the play-by-play voice for Clinton High School football, boys' and girls' basketball and baseball. Catch Jim live weekdays beginning at 6:30 am for live local news, sports, weather and traffic plus the Community Bulletin Board, shenanigans with Ron Meredith and more on the Country Club Morning Show on WYSH. Jim lives in Clinton with his wife Kelly and daughter Carolina, and cats Oliver, Bow and Libby.

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