Spring Break in The GSMNP

GATLINBURG - Great Smoky Mountains National Park managers have announced plans to bring in a large crane to remove the remaining unstable material from the site of the March 5 slide on the north-bound Spur. That slide occurred just beyond the tunnel on the north-bound Spur (U.S. 441) between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The Park expects to accomplish the slide stabilization between Tuesday morning March 13 and Thursday afternoon March 15.
Managers are looking at two alternatives to handle north-bound traffic during the work period. One option is to funnel the north-bound traffic into single lane before the tunnel and maintain that one lane of traffic past the work zone. If they do not believe that can be done safety, the second option will be to detour the north-bound traffic onto one of the normal south-bound lanes all the way from the north end of Gatlinburg to the Gnatty Branch Bridge where motorists would cross the river and continue into Pigeon Forge.