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In spring and summer of 2010 over $93,300,000 worth of improvements will be made to park roads and facilities. Funding for the projects has become available from a combination of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (economic stimulus package) along with previously-authorized Federal Lands Highway Program funds, partner construction monies, and annual cyclic and repair/rehabilitation funds.
The following park roadways will be re-surfaced and, in some cases, rebuilt using $77.4 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA):
Clingmans Dome Road
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and Cherokee Orchard Road
Smokemont Campground
Heintooga Ridge Road and Balsam Mountain Campground
Little River and Jakes Creek Trailheads
Foothills Parkway East
Cosby Campground Roads
The Sinks Parking Area
In addition to the ARRA-funded work, the following road projects will be undertaken using $19.4 million from the Federal Lands Highway Program:
Cades Cove Loop Road
Foothills Parkway West
Gatlinburg Bypass and Newfound Gap Road from the Gatlinburg boundary to the Sugarlands Visitor Center
Newfound Gap Road from Collins Creek Picnic Area to Cherokee, NC
Stimulus funds were also made available for other facility improvement projects, including making comfort stations accessible, trail repair, cemetery maintenance, and building painting and roof repair.
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