GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK -  By Monday morning Charles Blalock and Sons workers had cleared away all the fallen rock, dirt and trees from Friday’s slide on the southbound Pigeon Forge – Gatlinburg Spur.  Park officials believe that the slope above the slide site is now stabilized, but as a precaution, jersey barriers will funnel south-bound traffic into the left lane away from the rock face for several weeks to allow time for any remaining material to come down.

Tonight between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. workers from the Park, TDOT,

Blalock and Sons, and Pigeon Forge will be working together to remove all

the cones, barriers and signs that were installed last Friday to detour all

the south-bound traffic towards Gatlinburg via the Huskey Grove Road

overpass.  When they finish tonight, traffic flow will be exactly the same

as it was prior to the Friday slide.  Tonight’s work was scheduled at 7:00

p.m. to avoid heavier commuter and school-related traffic, but delays are

likely so motorists are advised to plan around that work period or take an

alternate route to avoid the Spur.