Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) Officials with the National Park Service delivering some welcome news Tuesday afternoon as Hurricane Helene recovery continues in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
NPS says it will reopen US 441/Newfound Gap Road by 8:00 a.m. Wednesday to allow for access between TN and NC communities.
Once US 441 reopens, all major roads, trails and facilities on the Tennessee-side of the park will be open to visitors. Kuwohi Road (formerly Clingmans Dome Road) will also open Wednesday.
According to the park service, several local communities including Sevier County, which includes Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, as well as Cherokee in North Carolina, are fully open to those who can access them through safe routes.
The park service is still urging visitors to plan their trips as emergency services are stretched thin and response times may be delayed.
In addition, the following park closures remain in place: Cataloochee Valley, Big Creek, Balsam Mountain and Lakeview Drive. The Oconaluftee and Kuwohi visitor centers are also closed.
The park service also reminds motorists that Commercial vehicles are always prohibited on US 441/Newfound Gap Road and in all of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (with the exception of the Spur). While the NPS recognizes that major routes outside the park are currently closed, park roads are not structurally designed to sustain traffic from heavy vehicles. Commercial vehicles will be turned away.
As always, consult the park website for additional information and updates.
