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OF NORTH C <br /> i.P 2 <br /> NCDOTPD 9 <br /> qT a,�v <br /> �iFNT OF TR N11 <br /> NCDCIT Transportation • Newsletter April 2025 <br /> NCDOT Updates "Connecting people, <br /> The below and next pages contain NCDOT press releases, local products and places <br /> CTP Status Updates, USDOT NOFO, FHWA Newsletter Issue, safely and efficiently <br /> plan links and more. with customer focus, <br /> Impressive NCDOT Efforts Continue 6 Months After He- accountability and <br /> lene (3/28/2025) environmental sensi- <br /> ASHEVILLE — N.C. Department of Transportation employees first provided tivity to enhance the <br /> access to citizens impacted by Hurricane Helene by cutting their way economy and vitality <br /> through forests of downed trees. of North Carolina...." <br /> Six months after the most destructive storm in state history, NCDOT em- - NCDOT Mission <br /> ployees and dedicated industry partners continue working for the resi- Statement <br /> dents, businesses and visitors of western North Carolina. <br /> The emergency has passed. But not the urgency. <br /> NCDOT has reopened 90 percent of the roads damaged by the hurricane. Crews have repaired or re- <br /> placed 270 bridges and 870 culverts and reopened Interstate 40 connecting North Carolina and Ten- <br /> nessee. <br /> "Lives were forever changed by this storm," NCDOT Division 13 Engineer Tim Anderson said. "Local <br /> NCDOT staff, NCDOT staff from other divisions and our contract partners have completed a great <br /> deal of emergency repairs and we will not stop." <br /> Crews worked through the winter, with limited daylight and in freezing temperatures. On some days, <br /> NCDOT crews worked on Helene repairs in the morning then worked snow and ice operations later in <br /> the same day. <br /> "We knew right away when this storm hit that we needed to do all we could to get these roads ready <br /> for winter. Our crews did a great job in the fall, and the winter was indeed a challenge," NCDOT Divi- <br /> sion 11 Engineer Michael Poe said. "With spring now coming, we're really excited about the next six <br /> months and what we'll accomplish in that timeframe." <br /> Reopening 1-40 to one lane in each direction provides area residents with a critical connection to <br /> both states and long-range drivers a better route to transport cargo. Although slight delays are com- <br /> mon as traffic merges into one lane, a drive through the Pigeon River Gorge shows the devastating <br /> damage, the incredible efforts of NCDOT and its partners to date, and the immense task ahead. <br /> "We are happy to have 1-40 open and operating in a limited capacity, and we also know that tons — <br /> literally thousands of tons — of work remains to restore 1-40 completely," NCDOT Division 14 Engi- <br /> neer Wesley Grindstaff said. "Our employees and our contractors are up to the challenge for the <br /> benefits of our residents and interstate commerce." <br /> For full article, visit this NCDOT webpage: Impressive NCDOT Efforts Continue 6 Months After Helene <br /> Page 1 <br />