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Following the decision by the National Park Service to route the Blue Ridge Parkway into North Carolina rather than through Tennessee in 1934, some concerned Tennesseans began campaigning for a scenic parkway that would showcase the beauty of the land in their state.
On February 22, 1944 Congress authorized the development of the Foothills Parkway, a road that would allow visitors to enjoy views of the park from its northern edge. Given the reality that, America was still embroiled in World War II, it would be over a decade before the Smokies would have money for new projects.
It is not until 1956 that funds would be made available through the NPS program, titled “Mission 66”. This allowed for the replacement and renovation of dilapidated structures service-wide as well as the construction of new roads, campgrounds and buildings in the Smokies. Funds from Mission 66 allowed for the NPS to begin building the Foothills Parkway in 1960. Unfortunately, funding to complete the project has come sporadically over the years.
The Parkway route extends from Chilhowee Lake in Blount County to I-40 in Cocke County but as of 2008 only 22.5 miles of the proposed 72 miles of the parkway have been completed and are open to the public.
Only one of the incomplete segments is currently under construction, to connect the current open section in Blount County with Wears Valley. Work done between 2001 and 2007 included the constructing of 3 gracefully curving bridges that serve to carry the roadway over a steep, rugged side slope. These were the first of 10 bridges to be built on the section, designed to reduce erosion and environmental disturbance to the area, as well as provide excellent views by getting users up above the trees.
Full completion of this section of the parkway is still about 10 to 15 years away depending upon availability of funds. Completing the segment currently under construction and the 33 miles where no work has begun is estimated to cost nearly $ ½ billion.
The current open sections in of the Foothills Parkway are administered by Great Smoky Mountains National Park and offer some of the most beautiful views of the Smokies available outside of the park boundary. The Parkway offers excellent opportunities for sightseeing, driving, picnicking, and camping at the Look Rock campground. It is also a premier vantage point for view Fall color viewing without the traffic congestion usually found within the main body of the park.
