The Sinks Parking Area Improvements
Limited parking at the Sinks, a popular roadside waterfall, creates traffic congestion and confusion. The Sinks is a popular roadside waterfall located on Little River Road between Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area and the Townsend Wye. The small, narrow parking area at the waterfall was difficult to maneuver vehicles in, leading to traffic congestion and confusion. In addition, visibility was limited by a sharp corner on Little River Road at the entrance to the parking area, making it difficult to safely pull out of the lot onto the road. The path to the scenic overlook was rough and uneven with exposed roots. While numerous rocks in the area became extremely slippery when wet. The project consisted of the removal and the replacement of the existing Sinks parking area. The construction of a new 7,400 square foot parking area included the installation of 21 paved parking stalls, the construction of approximately 500 feet stone masonry retaining walls and new walkways, a new overlook area with a masonry wall and handrail, stone curbing and the installation of a subsurface drainage system including inlet structures and pipe culverts. Miscellaneous work associated with this project included the installation of new signs, the application of traffic markings, and turf establishment. 
Redesigning the overlook area will improve visitor safety. . 
This project will be completed using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and will cost approximately $1,496,000. |
Did You Know?
There are at least 30 different species of salamanders in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This gives the Smokies the distinction of having the most diverse salamander population anywhere in the world and has earned the park the nickname “Salamander Capital of the World.”