" MOST " of " The Dragon " ...Re-opens Monday 4-12

TDOT officials plan to reopen most of the section of US 129 know as "The Dragon" during daylight hours beginning Monday, despite the challenges emergency crews will face responding to wrecks on the curvy stretch of road.

According to a news release, the stretch of U.S. 129 from the Tabcat Bridge to the North Carolina state line will be open to traffic each day between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. for all but commercial and large RV traffic. The road will remain closed to all traffic overnight.

However, the section of U.S. 129 from just past the Foothills Parkway to the Tabcat Bridge will remain closed as crews work to remove a rockslide that closed the roadway in March.

TDOT said Tennessee Highway Patrol officers will monitor the road while emergency responders from Graham County, North Carolina will be called if there are accidents with injuries.


The rockslide is expected to be cleared by July 31. However, TDOT will provide an incentive to the contractor that is clearing the road and securing the rock if the work is completed early.

Best I can tell you will be able to do the entire 11 miles of The Dragons Tail you just have to come in from the North Carolina side.Just for the record coming in from the North Carolina side will be the way we ride in on " The Dark Side Rally In The Smoky's " . We'll cross The Cherohala Skyline and ride in on US 129 out of Robbinsville,NC.