US 441 through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is closing from 10 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. due to the influx of illegal commercial vehicles.
What's happening: Many truckers are rerouting through this area because of Hurricane Helene closing other main roads like I-40 and I-26.
- The road re-opened on October 2, but the National Park Service (NPS) has since faced numerous issues, including 45 large commercial vehicles turned away in just one day.
- Overnight, incidents involved a car hauler crashing and a semi truck’s brakes catching fire, with more trucks bypassing emergency responders.
Why it matters: Newfound Gap Road isn't equipped for large commercial traffic. It's a two-lane path with steep grades and sharp curves, making it perilous for big rigs.
- NPS acknowledged the closures of major surrounding routes but emphasized that this road lacks essential safety features for trucks like runaway ramps.
The park hopes to find solutions that allow night passage without endangering safety. However, no timeline has been set for changes, according to National Park Service.
Currently, there's no specified date for when overnight closures might lift.