No matter where you look in Sevier County, road construction and those ominous orange and white cones are everywhere. Even in a state that REALLY likes the colors Orange & White (the colors of the University of Tennessee – the Tennessee Volunteers) this has been too much. At the same time we have been not so patiently enduring the work on Chapman Highway to replace aging bridges, the creation of the new bridge in Sevierville and the improvement to the Main Street bridge, and finally the undergrounding of utilities in Gatlinburg.

Now that our high tourist season is upon us it is reasonable to ask when will it all be done? The answer is soon – very soon if you can believe the powers that be. Based upon discussions that I have had recently with a member of the Sevierville Board of Alderman the majority of the current road work should be completed by Memorial Day. The city’s new ultra-flow plan is designed to allow through traffic to pass more easily while at the same time allowing local folks to get from point A to point B while maintaining their composure and sanity.

To add even more good news the work to underground electrical and phone lines in downtown Gatlinburg is now progressing well. Despite a slow start construction has been pretty much completed on the east/south side of the parkway and is moving along nicely on the west/north side as well. According to the city of Gatlinburg this phase of the work will also be completed by the end of May and the next phase won’t begin until December when traffic will be less problematic. In a community that derives the vast majority of its income from tourists it is pretty much a necessity that they be allowed to get into and out of the community without losing their sense of humor. Based on the information available we can now anticpate our roads being freed up and tempers cooling a bit in time for the greatest visitation period of the year. Now if we locals can all keep OUR sanity for just a few more days…