According to officials with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, a piece of Interstate 40 washed away in the Pigeon River Gorge during Hurricane Helene will be accessible to traffic by the beginning of the new year.
The gorge is where I-40 runs roughly parallel to the Pigeon River and connects East Tennessee and Western North Carolina.
In late September, the area experienced unparalleled destruction when severe rains and floods swept entire lanes into the Pigeon River.
However, NCDOT stated that a project to stabilize a section of the interstate could be ready for traffic by New Year’s Day.
The project will generate adequate road space for one lane in each direction along a 9-mile stretch between Tennessee and North Carolina. Drivers will be able to reach speeds of up to 40 mph throughout this length.
According to NCDOT, this short-term fix will also allow long-term upgrades to be completed over several years.
“We are optimistic that our contract partners can complete the work, establish one narrow lane in each direction, and create a safe work zone for the long-term restoration,” NCDOT Division 14 Engineer Wanda Payne stated. ”
We are striving to open I-40 when it is safe, and everyone will be under tight conditions. But if everyone is patient, everyone will make it through.”
Officials stated that long-term reconstruction plans are still being developed. They stated that there is no start date for the building and no cost estimate.
Meanwhile, other areas of I-40, particularly those along the Blue Ridge Parkway, have begun to reopen.
Reference: I-40 section washed away between Tennessee, North Carolina by Helene has targeted reopening date