Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that a paving project will begin this week on Newfound Gap Road along an 8-mile section of the roadway from Chimneys Picnic Area to Newfound Gap.
According to a press release, the project is expected to be completed by November 30.
Visitors traveling on Newfound Gap Road should expect weekday, single-lane closures and traffic delays through June 15 and again from August 16 through September 30, officials said.
Lane closures are permitted from 7:00 a.m. on Mondays through 12:00 p.m. on Fridays.
The lane closures will be managed with flagging operations and a pilot car to lead traffic through work zones.
Officials said that some parking areas and pull-offs will be closed intermittently.
To accommodate visitors during periods of high visitation, no daytime lane closures will be allowed on weekends, holidays, the week before and after the Easter holiday, summer season, or the month of October.
The Federal Highway Administration awarded the $8.5 million paving contract to Bryant's Land Development Industries Inc. of Burnsville, North Carolina.
The roadwork will include the application of a pavement preservation treatment along a 6-mile section of the roadway and a full pavement rehabilitation for the remainder.
For more information visit www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm or follow SmokiesRoadsNPS on Twitter.