Roadwork will force closure of a stretch of Foothills Parkway West in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and affect access to the Look Rock Observation Tower/NPS file

Another tranche of Great American Outdoors Act money is flowing into the National Park System, this time to Great Smoky Mountains National Park where $31 million will be spent to rehabilitate 17 miles of Foothills Parkway West.

The repair work will run from Chilhowee Lake to Walland. This stretch of the parkway sees more than 700,000 visitors a year, according to the park. The rehabilitation project will include a series of full-lane closures starting on March 14.    

“We are pleased to have this opportunity to make these much-needed repairs,” said acting Superintendent Alan Sumeriski. “With increasing visitation and the completion of the adjacent section of the Foothills Parkway, this area is experiencing more use and more wear and tear. These funds will enable us to make critical improvements to keep the road safely open for access to one of the most scenic driving experiences in the Smokies.”    

The GAOA, which sends up to $1.3 billion into the park system on an annual basis, supports a focused effort to address the most critical maintenance needs in the Smokies and other national parks across the country. This project will reduce more than $25 million in deferred maintenance associated with the Parkway, support 400 jobs, and contribute $85.5 million to the nation’s economy, according to a park release. 

Road damage on the Foothills Parkway West to be repaired/NPS

The Federal Highway Administration awarded the construction contract to a local, small business that will manage the project. Work will include repaving the roadway, restoring guardrails, repairing bridges and drainage, and replacing asphalt walkways with ADA compliant concrete sidewalks. The scenic Foothills Parkway West provides access to 16 overlooks, including the popular Look Rock Observation Tower, the recently reopened Look Rock Picnic Area, and the soon-to-be-reopened Look Rock Campground.  

To safely and efficiently accomplish the repaving work, the project will include two phases of full closure periods. From March 14 through May 21, the roadway will be fully closed from the Look Rock Observation Tower parking area west to the Highway 129 intersection near Chilhowee Lake. From June 1 through August 31, the roadway will be fully closed from the Look Rock Observation Tower parking area east to the Highway 321 intersection near Walland, TN. During these periods, the roadway sections are fully closed to all pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. The remaining construction work will be conducted with single-lane closures from August 31, 2022, through May 5, 2023. Motorists should expect delays during this time period.   

For more information about alternative scenic roads to explore during the construction period, visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/autotouring.htm.