National Park Service plans to complete additional design work and technical studies for Foothills Parkway Section 8D

GATLINBURG, Tenn. - The National Park Service (NPS) will conduct additional design work and technical studies for Foothills Parkway Section 8D. This decision was based on feedback from subject matter experts and public comments received during a 30-day public comment which ended on August 21.

The NPS will reinitiate the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and inform the public of opportunities for future public engagement once this additional work is completed. A schedule for completing the additional work has not yet been established.

The proposed Foothills Parkway Section 8D in Great Smoky Mountains National Park would extend the parkway within the existing NPS-managed corridor approximately 9 miles from Wears Valley to the Spur near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The construction of this proposed section would provide recreational opportunities, support tourism, improve the transportation network inside and outside the park and fulfill the intent of federal and state legislation authorizing construction of the Foothills Parkway.

The concept of a parkway in Tennessee near Great Smoky Mountains National Park was conceived in the 1930s. Similar to the creation of the park itself, the NPS worked closely with Tennessee officials and park supporters to develop concepts for a scenic parkway. Legislation to establish the parkway was signed into law in 1944 and construction began in the 1950s with the Gatlinburg Spur. Completed portions of Foothills Parkway now include the Spur and five other sections at either end of the 72-mile corridor. The western sections (8H, 8G, 8F, and 8E) extend 33 continuous miles from Chilhowee to Wears Valley and the eastern section (8A) extends 6 miles from Cosby to Interstate 40. Construction on the three middle sections (8B, 8C, and 8D) has not begun. The completed sections of the Foothills Parkway provide breathtaking views and recreational driving experiences for more than 400,000 vehicles per year.

To learn more about the proposed Foothills Parkway Section 8D project, please visit the NPS planning website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/Section8D and review the scoping newsletter.