Cherokees partner with Park on landslide repairs

Great Smoky Mountains News Release

Release Date: Immediate

Contacts: NPS: Dana Soehn, Dana_Soehn@nps.gov, 865-436-1207

EBCI: Lynne Harlan, lynnharl@nc-cherokee.com,828-554-6712

Date: February 8, 2013

Park and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Partner to Offer Early Completion Incentive for Newfound Gap Road Repairs

 Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) have partnered together to offer an early completion incentive for repairs to Newfound Gap Road (US 441) which was closed due to a January landslide. An extended road closure has significant economic implications for our tourism-based gateway communities.

 Park officials and the EBCI worked together to offer a monetary incentive of $ 18,000 per day to the selected contractor for each day of completion prior to May 15, 2013, up to a maximum of $500,000. The amount donated by the EBCI will apply to the first 14 days of the incentive period at the above rate.

 EBCI Principal Chief, Michell Hicks, and Park Superintendent, Dale Ditmanson, recognize the importance of Newfound Gap Road as a vital economic artery linking the NC and TN communities, as well as its importance to park visitors who enjoy the unique driving experience.

 “We are grateful that our Cherokee neighbors offered to match the National Park Service $250,000 incentive proposal in order to motivate the contractor to complete the rehabilitation of the road as efficiently as possible,” said Superintendent Ditmanson.

 In addition to the monetary incentives, the contract also includes monetary disincentives. The contractor will be charged $18,000 per day past May 15, 2013 to help insure the project is completed on schedule.

 The contracting piece for phase 2, involving the actual road reconstruction, was initiated on Friday January 25, when Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) posted a pre-solicitation for contractors with interest in repairing the landslide. Through this process a number of successful contractors submitted acceptable technical proposals and are now eligible to submit a bid to for the project. Bids from these contractors are due February 15, 2013. The contract for this phase of work is estimated to cost between $3,000,000 and $7,000,000. Final construction work will begin soon after.

 Phase 1 of the reconstruction project is on schedule. Phase 1 contract crews from APAC –Atlantic Harrison are in the process of building the haul road, stabilizing the site, and removing debris to prepare the site for Phase 2 reconstruction. Soil erosion mitigation efforts to stabilize the debris field and minimize siltation into Beech Flats Prong stream have been completed. In addition, Park biologists have completed all environmental compliance associated with the road reconstruction.

 Newfound Gap Road will remain closed to thru traffic during the construction, but visitors are still able to access the park to Newfound Gap from the TN side and to Collins Creek Picnic Area from the Cherokee, NC entrance.