Gatlinburg Spur faces September lane closures for repairs
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will restrict traffic on the 4.2-mile connector between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge for storm damage repairs and utility work through month's end.
What travelers need to know
- What happened: Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced single-lane closures on the Gatlinburg Spur for storm repairs and utility work.
- Who's affected: Drivers traveling between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge; the roadway carries 40,000 vehicles per day in summer.
- Where: Gatlinburg Spur, a 4.2-mile four-lane divided highway connecting the two Tennessee gateway cities.
- When: , with various work windows between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
- What to do: Expect delays, drive cautiously around work crews, and check the park website for up-to-date closure information.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will close one lane at a time on the Gatlinburg Spur for nearly three weeks beginning to repair storm damage and complete utility work on one of the region's most heavily traveled roads, the park said in a announcement. The Spur, a four-lane divided roadway that forms part of the Foothills Parkway and connects Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, carries an average of 40,000 vehicles a day during peak summer season.
The park is asking travelers to allow extra time and drive with heightened caution. The first phase of work begins and runs through from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day, with a single southbound lane closed between the Gatlinburg Welcome Center and the city limit. Crews will stabilize the roadway's shoulder, replace concrete curbs, and install drainage systems damaged by storms.
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Three overlapping work windows through month's end
A second phase, scheduled for from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will close shoulders on both the northbound and southbound acceleration ramps near Huskey Grove Bridge for utility surveys ahead of future construction. Personnel will operate behind guardrails and medians on both sides of the highway.
The longest closure runs from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., targeting north and southbound lanes near the same bridge for utility work. The park said crews plan to begin with southbound lane closures before shifting to northbound traffic. The northbound tunnel will be affected. Work will conclude at noon on and pause over the weekend before resuming for the final week.
Spur serves as gateway for millions of annual visitors
The roughly 4.2-mile Gatlinburg Spur serves as a critical transportation artery for the park, which welcomed more than 13 million visitors in 2025. The roadway provides the primary link between the two Tennessee gateway towns and delivers access to trailheads, campgrounds, and scenic overlooks throughout the national park. Motorists can check the park's website for real-time updates on road closures and construction schedules as conditions change.
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