meach Posted January 21, 2013 #1 Posted January 21, 2013 So it looks like the closure is going to be for some time, equal to 9,000 dump trucks loads washed away. Perhaps build a bridge where road used to be. Not sure how bad the Cherohala slide or how long it will be closed but western NC economy will take a hit with these closures, now all they need is for the I40 area to slide again and close I40 once again and the whole region will be a mess. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/jan/20/fixing-smokies-slide-area-challenging-133-but/?partner=popular
bongobobny Posted January 21, 2013 #2 Posted January 21, 2013 Wow!! Been down that road before, pretty countryside...
Venturous Randy Posted January 21, 2013 #3 Posted January 21, 2013 May need to do another Lynn Cove type viaduct. Yes, been through there several times. That would be a weird feeling to look back and see the road is gone. RandyA
Motorcycle Mike Posted January 21, 2013 #5 Posted January 21, 2013 I rarely travel that section of 441 due to the traffic. That is a favorite route from North Ga to Gatlinburg for many and often slows to a crawl. The closure will surely clog other routes. I do frequent the Cherohala. That is gona cramp my style.
GAWildKat Posted January 21, 2013 #6 Posted January 21, 2013 How are the road closures going to affect the Vogel Rally in August??
Motorcycle Mike Posted January 21, 2013 #7 Posted January 21, 2013 I have yet to attend the vogel meet but unless you want to go to Gattlinburg or ride the Cherohala, it should have no effect at all.
GAWildKat Posted January 21, 2013 #8 Posted January 21, 2013 well the 2011 ride took the group on the Cherohala....to the tail of the dragon....I was just the passenger, haven't a clue lol.
djh3 Posted January 21, 2013 #9 Posted January 21, 2013 Depending on where they start from you can still make the dragon, but if you dont want to double back the same roads it makes it challenging. Would hav to go all the way around the other side of the park.
Motorcycle Mike Posted January 21, 2013 #10 Posted January 21, 2013 Depending on where they start from you can still make the dragon, but if you dont want to double back the same roads it makes it challenging. Would hav to go all the way around the other side of the park. You could go up 129 and come back on 28 through Franklin. Hit 64 then 75 to 80. Darn good riding right there.
RandyR Posted January 22, 2013 #11 Posted January 22, 2013 This section of 441 is north-east of where rides from Vogel usually go.
Wrench Posted January 22, 2013 #12 Posted January 22, 2013 Yeah, it said it was just past Newfound Gap, on the N.C. side. Man, that's gonna suck big time. Hopefully it won't be as long as the repair on the Maryville end of the Foothills Pkwy a few years ago. That little cat-path over to Deal's Gap wasn't much, I think it was called Happy Valley Road. I still swear I heard banjos playin'!!
Mike G in SC Posted January 22, 2013 #13 Posted January 22, 2013 (edited) Maybe they can get the administration to "cut the red tape" like was promised for Sandy. Just think where they might be in two months. (Edit: Sorry, that was meant to be low level humor, like in 2 months later.....) Edited January 22, 2013 by Mike G in SC
djh3 Posted January 22, 2013 #14 Posted January 22, 2013 Also dealing with national park bureau. No way this is going to get as attention as Sandy. With them giving millions in emergency money for that, well may not be enough to go around.
Guest scarylarry Posted January 22, 2013 #15 Posted January 22, 2013 So it looks like the closure is going to be for some time, equal to 9,000 dump trucks loads washed away. Perhaps build a bridge where road used to be. Not sure how bad the Cherohala slide or how long it will be closed but western NC economy will take a hit with these closures, now all they need is for the I40 area to slide again and close I40 once again and the whole region will be a mess. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/jan/20/fixing-smokies-slide-area-challenging-133-but/?partner=popular This may be the cheaper and fastest route..
meach Posted January 22, 2013 Author #16 Posted January 22, 2013 May need to do another Lynn Cove type viaduct. ... RandyA Was thinkiing the same thing, will be interesting to see what they come up with and how quickly work begins. I would think it would be a priority since there is not much of an alternate route for those 6 - 7,000 cars a day to go but with all the environmental concerns being in a National Park you just never know. We normally go 441 a few times a year but rarely go into Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge anymore, just too much traffic. We turn at Sugarlands and come out the south end of park. Spent many a summer day as a kid (and took my kids later) tubing from the Sinks to the Wye, all it cost was the gas to drive up from Knoxville. Here is a couple picture of the Sinks, after all the rains of last week and a typical day, pretty amazing how much water was flowing.
Mike G in SC Posted January 22, 2013 #17 Posted January 22, 2013 The viaduct below Grandfather Mt was considered a grand engineering feat, and it took forever to complete. But now when you ride it, car or bike, you will notice that it is no longer smooth as 10 years ago. While you are trying to look at all the grandeur around and above you, you find you have to look at the road cause, I would guess, it has settled a bit. And it doesn't have much traffic and few trucks.
meach Posted March 1, 2013 Author #18 Posted March 1, 2013 So they have started work going night and day, looks like it will be finished by early summer. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/feb/27/fixing-a-hole-crews-ready-to-work-round-the-at/
1rooster Posted March 1, 2013 #19 Posted March 1, 2013 So they have started work going night and day, looks like it will be finished by early summer. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/feb/27/fixing-a-hole-crews-ready-to-work-round-the-at/ Scheduled to reopen 15 May.
BigLenny Posted March 1, 2013 #20 Posted March 1, 2013 I wonder when the Cherohala Skyway will reopen? IMO, that's a more fun road to ride than 441. I do like 441 though.
stroker ace Posted March 1, 2013 #21 Posted March 1, 2013 I wonder when the Cherohala Skyway will reopen? IMO, that's a more fun road to ride than 441. I do like 441 though. It's open now, just a has a small detour around slide area. We rode it last weekend. http://www.grahamstar.com/articles/2013/02/22/news/doc51019dfd2280f727069323.txt
meach Posted March 1, 2013 Author #22 Posted March 1, 2013 It's open now, just a has a small detour around slide area. We rode it last weekend. http://www.grahamstar.com/articles/2013/02/22/news/doc51019dfd2280f727069323.txt Yea, I thought it was open but wan't sure, hadn't seen any articles about it and I haven't been that way over the winter. I too think Cherohala is a nicer ride overall, we mainly use 441 as a way to get to different parts of the Smokies from here in GA when we don't want to go up thru Knox/Maryville/, etc. Have some land in Walland so can usually take 441 over to Sugarlands (rarely go on into Gatlinburg) and cut thru park to Walland. Can be slow if traffic bad but if on a bike just out for the ride anyway and not in a hurry.
djh3 Posted March 2, 2013 #23 Posted March 2, 2013 Well I see they have plenty of "supervision" on the top of the hill there.
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