This Land, Your Land

The Tennessee Valley Authority has announced that it will close the road atop Fontana Dam for more than four months as three of the dam's water intake gates are refurbished.

N.C. 1245, which crosses the 480-foot-tall dam, will close October 1 through early February 2010, the TVA says in a news release. Foot traffic will be allowed across the dam, enabling continued access to the Appalachian Trail.

The parking area, visitors center and observation deck at the dam site will not be directly affected by the work.

Sandblasting equipment and a mobile crane will be placed on top of the dam during the project.