The easy connection between Tennessee and North Carolina in the Great Smoky Mountains, Newfound Gap Road, is closed and will be for some time. According to the National Park Service,
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has closed Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) due to a landslide which undercut the road near mile marker 22 between Collins Creeks and Webb Overlook at 9:40 am. The slide is estimated to be a 200 foot section of road extending 1000 foot down slope, but the full extent of the damage is not yet known. The closure is expected to be in effect for an extended period of time.This is a major slide, and I'm guessing it will take months to get the road put back together. Right now, I'm just thankful that I'll still be able to access Little River during my Spring Break trip home. Let's hope there are no more major slides in the Park and that everyone stays safe with all the high water!
Wow, I hope no one was hurt driving on the rode right after the slide. That would be strange driving up to that.
ReplyDeleteYet another good reason I should probably slow down when I drive through the Park... :O
DeleteHey David. I guessing even a good 4x4 won't get you past that one, although I'm sure there are some out there that will try.
ReplyDeleteMark, hopefully people won't be that foolish but as you said, probably someone will make the news for trying. Hopefully they survive...
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