Chamber holds gas giveaway

$2,500 in free gas to celebrate city’s road updates Sevierville and the Great Smoky Mountains are within a day’s drive of over half the nation’s population. Now driving there is even easier with new roads to the Smokies. The City of Sevierville has now officially opened two new roads and added a new lane on SR 66 and the Parkway through downtown Sevierville to ease traffic congestion for visitors coming to Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains.  The $31 million dollar expansions open to date provide smoother traffic flow throughout the city with less stopping along the way. An additional $81 million in road improvements in Sevierville is planned over the next five years.  The Sevierville Chamber of Commerce is celebrating by inviting people to visit Sevierville and perhaps receive $50 in free gasoline.   “For years people who have visited this area have simply expected traffic delays, especially during the summer months,” says Sevierville Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Brenda McCroskey. “Now with higher gas prices, sitting still in traffic is not only frustrating, it’s expensive. With new, wider roads and more alternate routes, traffic congestion has greatly decreased and visitors couldn’t be happier.”Visitors entering the area from I-40 Exit 407 via SR 66 will find an additional lane of traffic makes the travel into Sevierville much faster. The new SR 448/North Parkway eases traffic congestion leaving town, especially after holiday weekends, by bringing three lanes of traffic directly onto Hwy 66 and back to I-40. Additionally, the new Collier Drive extension moves visitors from the main Parkway directly to Veteran’s Boulevard, a new six lane route from Sevierville to Pigeon Forge that passes right by the entrance to the Dollywood theme park.  To celebrate the new road openings, the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce will randomly give away fifty (50) $50 gas cards each day beginning August 1 and continuing until August 14. In total $2500 in free gas will be distributed to area visitors.  Want a tip about where to receive one? Two of the cards will be distributed each day at the Sevierville Visitor Center / Great Smoky Mountains Visitor Center 1.5 miles from I-40 Exit 407 on the right. Even if you don’t receive a free gas card there, you can still pick up great area coupons and up-to-date information on what to do while visiting. One to two additional gas cards will be given out randomly at Sevierville attractions each day. For more information on visiting Sevierville and the “new roads to the Smokies” call 1-888-738-4378 or go online to www.VisitSevierville.com/.