Mudslide Forces US-441 To Close From Gatlinburg To Pigeon Forge, TN
on Feb 11, 2020
If you live in East Tennessee, be warned!
Overnight, a portion of US Highway 441, specifically the part that is often called “The Spur,” has been closed.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s road status Twitter announced the news late night (Feb 10).
The Northbound Spur (US 441) from Gatlinburg to Pigeon Forge is temporarily closed near the Westgate Resort due to a rock slide.
— Smokies Road Info (@SmokiesRoadsNPS) February 11, 2020
The reason for the closure is due to a rockslide, which was later characterized by ABC 6 WATE News as a “mudslide.” It occurred around 10:30pm local time and it located just past Westgate Resorts Road. ABC 6 reports the mud covers about 100 feet of both northbound lanes.
Reports say that the mudslide has an “estimated 500 cubic yards of material in a pile approximately 100 feet in length and 70 feet high.” Officials say it will take at least 45 dump trucks to remove the material and they should be done by this evening, depending on weather.
The next few days are supposed to be rainy ones in East Tennessee so there are no promises.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s road status Twitter gave a few updates about detours.
The Northbound Spur (US 441) from Gatlinburg to Pigeon Forge is temporarily closed just north of the Westgate Resort due to a rock slide. A detour is available from Westgate using Little Smoky Road to Beech Branch Road.
— Smokies Road Info (@SmokiesRoadsNPS) February 11, 2020
The Northbound Spur from Gatlinburg to Pigeon Forge is temporarily closed just north of the Westgate Resort due to a rock slide. A detour is available using Little Smoky Rd to Beech Branch Rd. Tractor Trailer/large trucks cannot utilize the detour and must take another route.
— Smokies Road Info (@SmokiesRoadsNPS) February 11, 2020
See the news report below.
