The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is taking steps to partially reopen Interstate 40 (I-40) by January 1, following extensive damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene. The hurricane, which swept through western North Carolina in September, caused devastating flooding and mudslides, killing over 100 people and destroying entire communities.
The stabilization project will allow vehicles to travel at 40 mph on a single lane in each direction along this section, although complete restoration of the interstate will take several years. NCDOT’s Division 14 Engineer, Wanda Payne, expressed optimism that their contracted partners can complete the necessary work to establish a narrow, temporary lane in each direction, ensuring a safe passage for both vehicles and construction crews. Payne noted that traffic conditions will be tight but encouraged patience among drivers as crews work to keep the route secure.
For the stabilization repairs, NCDOT awarded an $8.5 million contract to Ames Construction, with RK&K as the design firm and HNTB as the project manager. The companies hired for this project have to make sure the road is safe by using different methods. They’re building what are called “soil-nail walls,” which are supports that keep damaged parts of the road steady and stop more erosion (when dirt and rocks keep breaking away). They’re also adding concrete barriers to make the road safer. This way, cars can start using it even though the full repairs will still take a while.
Mudslides and flooding led to almost 600 roads being closed due to wreckage. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has managed to reopen about half of these roads, but there are still 297 roads closed and needing repairs. I-26 was reopened on October 30.
Opening part of I-40 now is a big deal for the area because it reconnects people and lets supplies get through. Payne, an engineer at NCDOT, explained that this partial reopening of I-40 will give people the “critical connectivity” they need. Until the road is completely fixed, though, truck drivers and residents will have to use GPS and other navigation tools to find alternate routes around any closed roads.
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