GSMNP - 2002--Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced work to begin on the final phase of construction of the Newfound Gap tunnels rehabilitation project on the Tennessee side of the Park on Monday, August 19. This phase will continue through September 27, 2002. This last phase of construction will take place only during the weekdays, Monday-Friday, through September 27 which is the targeted date for full completion of the project that began in November 2001. During this last phase, motorists can expect to encounter one-lane traffic closures, controlled by flaggers, any time of the day or night in the vicinity of the two tunnels involved in the repairs.

The contractor will be performing stone masonry work on the guardwalls near the tunnels and final placement of asphalt on the roadway and parking areas with striping and other miscellaneous road work. Motorists traveling Newfound Gap Road should be extremely cautious and adhere to the 20 mile-per hour speed limits that are posted near the construction area. The majority of the work, that raised the overhead clearance in the two 60-year-old tunnels and repaired the crumbling concrete tunnel linings, has been accomplished according to schedule and project objectives.

"We are through with the major portion of the rehabilitation project and are pleased with the progress of this comprehensive undertaking so far," said Superintendent Mike Tollefson. "The Federal Highway Administration and the contractor, Charles Blalock and Sons, deserve much credit for performing an enormous task under extreme demands to meet tight deadlines in order to accommodate the visiting public and the surrounding tourism communities. The result is safer passage for the millions of motorists traveling through the tunnels annually." The vertical clearance now accommodates vehicles within the legal height limit of 13'-6". The combination of the increased vertical clearance and the white tunnel linings dramatically brightens the interior of the tunnel and improves visibility within it. He continued, "This last phase will put the finishing touches on one of the Park's largest road projects. We don't expect that visitors will encounter significant delays during this time of year."

As part of the contract, in addition to work at the tunnel sites, stationary variable message signs will be installed near the Sugarlands and Oconaluftee Visitor Centers located on Newfound Gap Road. The installation of these signs will also involve intermittent one lane road closures for about one week at the two sites while contract employees place the 12' x 18' wood support structures in concrete and set the signs in position. Park managers will use the signs to relay important messages to Park visitors such as winter weather road conditions, other travel information, and for use during future maintenance and construction projects.