Heavy rainfall has led to undercutting of a stretch of the Newfound Gap Road that crosses Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Tennessee to North Carolina, forcing a temporary closure of the route, park officials said Saturday.
The rain Saturday night caused Walker Camp Prong to swell and eat away at part of the popular route. Roughly 100 feet of the southbound lane of the Newfound Gap Road between mile marker 12 and 13 on the Tennessee side of the park was undercut by the water, a park release said.
The National Park Service and Federal Highway Administration were assessing the structural integrity of the damaged section of the roadway.
Travelers planning to travel between North Carolina and Tennessee are advised to use Interstate 40 as an alternative route. The park was preparing for a partial road reopening on the North Carolina side of the park from Oconaluftee to Newfound Gap early next week. This partial reopening will allow visitors to access Kuwohi, also known as Clingmans Dome, from the North Carolina side of the park.
For the latest updates on road conditions and park information, visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park current conditions webpage or social media platforms.
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