An assessment team made up of Park staff and Federal Highways employees have completed the first assessment of the landslide that occurred on Newfound Gap Road. The slide is located in North Carolina near the Collins Creek Picnic Area. This first assessment shows that over 90,000 cubic yards of materials or 350-400 feet are involved in the slide. It was described as about the size of a football field and about 45-50 feet deep. According to the assessment team the slide is still active, while on site they observed debris moving and falling from the slide site.
This assessment underscores the considerable amount of damage to the road and at present the park still is unable at this time to give an estimate of the amount of time it will take to reopen the road. Federal Highways and park staff will continue to assess the site to determine options for repair and hope to have a rough estimate sometime next week. More inclement weather is expected over the next few days, this may interfere with assessing the site.
Further updates on the road condition will follow as details are determined. Meanwhile please continue to check for the most current road conditions and closures by calling 865-436-1200 x 631 or follow SmokiesRoadsNPS on Twitter.
Comments