Park Lane collapse cuts visitor access to Anderson County Park
This section of Park Road at the entrance to Anderson County Park slid down the bank toward Norris Lake last Friday, forcing closure of the road and park by the county.
On Saturday, barrels and rails stretched completely across Park Lane just past the entrance to the park’s campground, cutting off access to the boat ramps and picnic areas.
Access to the campground was not affected by the road collapse, but it has not yet opened for the summer, and its entrance was still blocked by a locked gate.
“We are assessing the situation and constructing an alternative access route [into the park],” said a post Monday on the Anderson County Park Facebook page. “We will post updates on Facebook and on our website at andersoncountypark.com.
“We know that you are curious, but for your own safety, please do not go around the barricades,” the post continued. “Thank you for your patience as we work to fix the road.”
The post added: “Please note that the road closure does not affect the campground. It will be open, and we are taking reservations for the 2025 season.”
Ben Taylor, manager of county parks, said in an announcement from the county that the collapse happened Friday morning.
Just part of the northbound side of the road, nearest to the lake, collapsed down the bank, but there were concerns that more of the road could fall as well, which led county officials to close the road rather than allowing traffic to try to bypass the collapsed section.
“You could hear it from the maintenance building [as] the guardrail started creaking,” Taylor said. “We weren’t sure where it (the sound) was coming from at first.”
“The roadway is still moving,” Taylor said Friday afternoon. He said officials began working on a plan to create a temporary alternate route into the park.
“It may be an inconvenience for people who have made reservations for shelters and stuff, but hopefully, we will be able to start working on a temporary route,” Taylor said.
Although no cause was given for the collapse, it did occur after the previous week’s heavy rains caused Norris Lake to fill to more than three feet above its normal summer water level, creating some flooding in low-lying areas.
For now, access to the area is open only to county road workers.
