Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that Cades Cove will reopen on Saturday, February 29! This is after a two-month closure for tunnel repairs. The now completed $950,000 Bote Mountain Tunnel repair along Laurel Creek Road is ahead of schedule! This will allow the popular area to reopen in time for the first full weekend of the Spring Break season. The Cades Cove Campground will reopen on March 5, 2020.
Lane Closures in Effect
Intermittent, single-lane closures will be necessary between March 1 and June 15 to re-pave the tunnel area. Motorists should expect weekday delays during the paving operations. This work will not occur on weekends, federal holidays, or the week before and after Easter.
Necessary Rehabilitation Work
The 121-foot long tunnel, constructed in 1948, had not had any significant rehabilitation work since that time. Crews replaced nine drainage chases using track-mounted saws to cut through the concrete liner along the arc of the 18-foot high tunnel opening. In addition, cracks throughout the tunnel were sealed and repaired. The tunnel was enclosed and heated to allow the temperature sensitive repairs to be completed.
