PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- It could be more than a month before the southbound side of the Spur, part of US Highway 441 between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, is reopened after Monday afternoon rock slide, according to Tennessee Department of Transportation spokesperson Julie Oaks.

"TDOT geotechnical engineers inspected the rock slide site early (Tuesday) morning and determined that the mountainside is still very unstable and additional work must be completed to stabilize the slope before the roadway can be reopened to traffic," Oaks said in a news release. "At this time, TDOT believes the roadway could potentially be closed for more than a month. Crews are on site today removing additional debris in order to get a closer look at the slide area."

The rock slide happened around 3:30 p.m. Monday.

Park officials initially called it a "large rock slide."

"The rock slide is on the City of Pigeon Forge owned portion of the Spur," park officials said in a news release.

Northbound lanes are being divided to accommodate one lane of northbound traffic and one lane of southbound traffic, according to Matthews. Southbound traffic is being detoured onto the northbound side of the Spur, he says.

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