Environmental assessment complete for Newfound Gap tunnels project

Plan calls for 42 total closure days

By Lisa Majors-Duff

The park is inviting public comments on the proposal through Dec. 15.

The 81-page document addresses the park's plans to perform improvements through the Morton Mountain and Chimney Tops Mountain tunnels. The goal of the project is to provide a two-lane, two-way park road through both tunnels with a vertical clearance that will safely accommodate larger vehicles and repair the interior linings that have been deteriorating over the years.

The EA identifies Alternative 2, Option D, as a preferred alternative for lowering the tunnel floor to give needed clearance and replacing the tunnel linings. This includes the installation of an asphalt floor and excavation by blasting. Forty-two days of full road closure are planned as part of the 144-day project. One lane of U.S. 441 is proposed to be closed for 51 days.

"This alternative, selected from two alternatives and various options, takes into consideration comments received during two rounds of public meetings held in North Carolina and Tennessee by officials from the Federal Highway Administration and the park," said Superintendent Michael Tollefson. "We feel that this option will accomplish the work with the least environmental impacts and minimal disruptions to traffic and the surrounding communities."

"One of the most important facts that needs to be emphasised is that Newfound Gap Road will never be closed from Cherokee to Newfound Gap (at the North Carolina-Tennessee line)," said Dave Redman, director of Tribal Tourism. "People need to know that."

The preferred alternative proposes to make all tunnel repairs beginning in November 2001 after the Thanksgiving weekend and continue through mid-May 2002. Construction activities would be completed in approximately 144 working days under various periods of full, one lane and night closures.

The estimated number of days Newfound Gap Road would be completely closed to through traffic is 42, with a portion of this to be scheduled between Thanksgiving and Christmas and the rest after Jan. 1, with some additional allowances for night closures. Work that will involve lane closures would also take place during the winter months (excluding the Christmas and New Year holiday period) when park visitation is at a minimum, thus reducing impact on the traveling public and surrounding communities.

"We asked (the Park Service to) consider doing this at the low traffic times," Redman said. "I'm very appreciative of the Park Service. We feel pretty well satisfied with the closures they've proposed." While Redman admits to being pleased with the proposed construction schedule, he did indicate his office will have to look at altering its marketing plans during the closures.

"We're looking more to the south," he said. "And this will all be happening during the grand opening of the new (Harrah's Cherokee Casino) hotel."

"We hate to see the park closed for even a day because it will impact our business," said Marsha Cameron, communications manager at Harrah's Cherokee Casino. "But we are also concerned about the safety of our customers."

The two tunnels were built in the 1930s when both vehicle heights and traffic volumes were lower than those today. Inspections by FHWA have shown that the interior linings have deteriorated and, more seriously, the vertical clearance is not adequate to safely accommodate the growing number of buses and larger vehicles. The vertical clearance in both tunnels is 12-foot, 4-inches at the outside edge of the travel lanes. Many buses and RVs are now approaching the maximum legal height of 13-foot, 6-inches. Drivers of these vehicles tend to "hug" and often partially cross the centerline into the opposing lane, creating the potential for head-on collisions.

Copies of the Environmental Assessment may be obtained by writing Superintendent, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, Tenn., 37738; e-mail: GRSM Superintendent@nps.gov; or phone (865) 436-1208.

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