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| US 129 "The Dragon" (Image courtesy of Bikebandit.com) |
On Tuesday, December 2nd, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT)
announced they had finished a review of US 129 (SR 115) and had determined that vehicles over thirty feet in length will no long be allowed on the road. This will help cut down on traffic congestion and also traffic accidents involving vehicles and larger trucks. There are sections of this road that are so tight tractor-trailers have to cross over into the oncoming lane or risk going into a ditch or off the side of the mountain.
US 129, otherwise known as The Dragon, or The Tail of the Dragon, runs between the Tennessee and North Carolina border in the Great Smokey Mountains National Forrest. With 318 curves in only 11 miles and a 1,085 foot elevation change, this stretch of road is one of the most challenging public roads in the U.S. today. What was once a hidden gem for Tennessee and North Carolina natives to enjoy, The Dragon has become a popular spot for motorcycle and auto enthusiasts alike. It's not without issues though. According to the same TDOT announcement there were over two hundred accidents on this road between 2010-2012. A website dedicated to information about The Dragon
lists almost forty deaths on this stretch of road from 1995 to the present, mostly motorcycle riders. Having been through The Dragon on a motorcycle and a car, they are both a blast to drive, but attention must be paid during peak season for vehicles crossing over into oncoming lanes. Also, if you have a tendency to get carsick this is probably not for you. Even driving it in a car one time I got a little queasy.
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