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Highway 66


Tennessee Highway 66
Great Smoky Mountains Parkway
Improvement Project

Project Update

If you’ve ever driven from I-40 to Sevierville, Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg in the last 15 years, you have come to expect congestion along State Route 66, The Great Smoky Mountains Parkway. The Tennessee Department of Transportation was able to accelerate funding to improve this important route with funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The first phase of this vital connector from I-40 to the Great Smoky Mountains began in July 2009. Phase One construction begins at State Route 338, Boyds Creek Highway to Nichols Street in Sevierville. The entire project from I-40 to downtown Sevierville will widen the existing highway from 4-lanes to 6-lanes improving congestion and enhancing safety for the traveling public.
(general location map) Adobe PDF file

Phase One of the highway 66 improvement project was awarded to Charles Blalock and Sons for $38,698,150.68 in June 2009. The project was completed in November 2011. (project phase map) Adobe PDF file

Phase Two was awarded in August, 2010 for $23,290,881.45. It is estimated to be completed by November, 2012. Phase Three was approved for construction funding this year for FY 2012-13.

Highway 66 serves as the main artery into the popular tourist areas of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg which are the Gateways to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Over 8 million people visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year, making it the most visited national park in the country.

Project Videos

Project Update

Improving 66 Facts

Important Project NOTES:  For those traveling to Knoxville, the Henley Bridge closed beginning January 3, 2011 for about 30 months. Please refer to the project website for detailed information: www.tn.gov/Henley.com

The speed limit is now 35 mph in the Phase 2 corridor (SR-66 from SR-139 (Douglas Dam Road) to I-40). It will remain in effect for the duration of the project (November 30, 2012).


Phase 2 – Douglas Dam Road (SR-139) to south of the I-40 Interchange:

This week on Phase 2 Blalock continued fill placement for the sidewalk berm; dressed subgrade and placed base stone for the new outside northbound lanes (as pictured below); and continued work on the retaining wall, storm drain, and utility relocations. Crews also continued placing fill over the Dumplin Creek inlet and outlet extensions for the new outside lanes.

Next week, crews will have W. Dumplin Valley Road reduced to one lane daily Monday (2/20) through Friday (2/24) to install storm drain across the road, please obey all signals from flagmen when entering and exiting this side road.  Crews will also continue the short duration (about 5 minutes) traffic stoppages daily, as needed, from SR-139 to I-40 for movement of equipment and materials in and out of the work zone.

If you have any questions regarding the project, please call us at 865.429.4509.  As always, please use extreme caution and reduce speed  through the work zone.

Updated: 02/21/2012


Working on overhead electric relocations on Phase 2. Working on retaining wall on Phase 2.
Installing new waterline on Phase 2. Dressing rockslope at Dumplin Creek inlet extension on Phase 2.
Finishing concrete surface of retaining wall on Phase 2.
View of snow-capped mountains from Phase 2.
Bricking up a catch basin on Phase 2.
Placing fill over the Dumplin Creek outlet extension on Phase 2.