NORTH CAROLINA, USA — The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is looking at several billion dollars worth of damage to roads due to Hurricane Helene.
NCDOT reps say the damage to roads and bridges after Helene is nothing they’ve ever seen before and although there is a lot of work ahead, they are making progress.
NCDOT Crews and contractors have repaired and reopened 600 North Carolina roads since Helene hit but there are still hundreds that are still closed. The road to recovery will be a long one.
"NCDOT, crews, and contractors are in this process for the long haul,” said David Uchiyama with NCDOT.
Crews are working around the clock to get repairs done.
“Thankfully, almost every single connection has been made to just about every single small community in Western North Carolina,” said Uchiyama.
The agency reported 580 road closures as of Tuesday with 100 of those on interstates, state and federal highways.
“There are still some places that require an ATV, or some other vehicle to cross a small stream in order for folks to get back home,” said Uchiyama. “Now, there's other locations here in western North Carolina where there's only footpaths.”
The agency is making headway on Interstate 40. The roads that have been reopened include Interstate 40 near Old Fort and in downtown Asheville, I-26 in Henderson and Polk counties, as well as U.S. 221, U.S. 321, and U.S. 421 in the Boone area, and U.S. 70 and U.S. 25 in Asheville, according to the agency's website.
There have been some issues.
“We would like to remind those in the trucking industry to follow detours designated for trucks over 30 feet in length,” said an NCDOT spokesperson during a presser alongside Governor Roy Cooper, Tuesday. “We’ve had several instances of trucks trying to take routes that are not built to handle large vehicles. We have had trucks get stuck and getting them out takes resources and getting them turned around is a challenge.”
Private businesses who want to help with recovery efforts can get pre-qualified to do so.
“There are some smaller contractors… hauling contractors that are providing some of the necessary services… moving goods and materials that are necessary for the short term as well as the long-term repairs here in western North Carolina,” said Uchiyama.
The agency is asking folks to drive with extreme precaution in and near areas affected as repairs continue and to slow down around crews working.