Tenn. Grant to Fund Extra Patrols on Treacherous Mountain Highway

Blount County, Tenn., officials have approved using a state grant to pay for stepped-up traffic enforcement in a curvy Smoky Mountains foothills highway popular with motorcyclists.

The stretch of U.S. 129 is known as The Dragon because it has 318 curves in eleven miles. The section is from Tabcat Creek to Deal’s Gap on the Tennessee-North Carolina state line.

The county Budget Committee and Purchasing Commission approved using the $65,000 grant on Monday.

Three people were killed in two accidents on the road in as many days in mid-July. A Florida couple lost control of a tricycle in a curve and died when they crashed into a boat being towed.

The day before, a Michigan motorcycle rider braked hard in a curve, lost control and skidded over an 80-foot cliff to his death.

Information from: The Daily Times, http://www.thedailytimes.com