PHOTO BY BOB FOWLER
Johnny Pilkey of Tellico Plains, a foreman with Harrison Construction Company, touches up fresh paving on the start of the 11-mile-long Loop Road in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.


March 31, 2010 | The Knoxville News Sentinel

Cades Cove Loop Road to Reopen Month Early

GATLINBURG - Cades Cove Loop Road will reopen about a month earlier than expected after a $6.7 million redo of the popular 11-mile route in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The road was projected to be closed three months, beginning March 1, for major work, including a repaving of the loop. The April 24 reopening will feature a field day with only bicycles and pedestrians allowed on the road, which is used by an estimated 563,000 vehicles a year, until noon. On Sunday morning, April 25, the park and the Friends of the Smokies are planning a one-time-only "Cades Cove Loop Lope," which will offer pre-registered runners a choice of the full 11-mile loop or a 3.5 mile loop course.

Both events are being planned to minimize visitor inconvenience. Construction work was briefly halted earlier this month over disagreements in the Senate on a stopgap funding bill that affected federal road projects. Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson today credited contractor APAC-Atlantic Inc. Harrison Division and the Federal Highway Administration with "capable management and aggressive efforts" in completing the project early. The contract also had financial incentives for early completion. The park has historically declined requests to stage foot and bicycle road races in Cades Cove because of heavy visitation and the popularity of such events. The first major facelift of the road since 1978 prompted the park to allow the events, according to Ditmanson. The loop is usually limited to bicycles and pedestrians until 10 a.m. Saturday and Wednesday from May through September.

The one-time closure on April 24 will be extended to noon. Parking will be available in one of the loop's mowed pastures. Additionally, access to Cades Cove on April 24 beyond the Townsend Wye will be limited to noon to visitors who are going to bike or walk. Details of the race will be posted on the Friends of the Smokies Web site at www.friendsofthesmokies.org/events.html in the next several days. Pre-registration is expected, and participants are encouraged to ride-share due to parking limitations since a maxium of 150 vehicle passes will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The run will begin at 8 a.m. with the loop reopening at noon. More details as they develop online and in Thursday's News Sentinel.

Harrison Construction Company

Since 1947, the Harrison Construction Company has been providing East Tennessee and North Carolina Quality Hot Mix Asphalt Paving, Site Grading and Road Construction. We offer Concrete Flatwork, Curb & Gutter, Storm Drainage, Aggregate Materials and Underground Utility Construction.

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Knoxville Asphalt Paving
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The Harrison Asphalt Division specializes in private, residential and commercial asphalt paving servicing eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. Our 22 asphalt facilities are ready to provide you with the very best in private and commercial paving. These hot-mix facilities produce a wide variety of different pavement mixes and types for highways, streets, driveways, parking lots and bicycle paths. Harrison Asphalt Division offers turnkey site development solutions, pavement rehabilitation and ready hot-mix paving to meet your needs.

Harrison Asphalt Division offers turnkey site development solutions and pavement rehabilitation to meet your needs. Contact our sales representatives at 865-546-3173.