As???????????????? a result of Hurricane Helene back in September of 2024, the Federal Highway Administration gave the green light to more than $1.15 billion in temporary relief money to North Carolina for fixing the roads and bridges that had been damaged. It's one of the largest injections of federal emergency relief fundsinto any state in recent memory.

With this money, it has been possible to carry out the necessary work to restore the parts of the I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge that were damaged by the storm, as well as other transport facilities that have been affected by the ????????????????weather in recent years

Hurricane Helene came in September 2024, and the aftermath included a large amount of flash flooding and damage to the infrastructure in the western part of North Carolina. 

It has been confirmed that a considerable number of state-maintained roads have been reopened; however, some sections of I-40 are still closed around the North Carolina-Tennessee border, with only one lane allowed in each direction due to damage to the shoulder and lanes. 

The reconstruction of the roads is anticipated to require a budget of more than $1 billion, with the work going on until the last quarter of ????????????????2028.

“I-40 is a vital interstate that allows people and goods to travel across Asheville and Western North Carolina through the mountains of eastern Tennessee, from families taking road trips to large freight trucks,” said officials, highlighting the importance of this corridor for commerce and tourism.

The???????????????? money given is a continuation of the previous help for the emergency situation, which was made possible by a quick release of $352.6 million and a first allocation of $167 million to the state of North Carolina for the repair of the damage caused by Helene. With this grant, the state can promptly fix the most heavily damaged areas and reduce traffic stoppages and the transport of goods to a ????????????????minimum.

As recovery progresses, officials in North Carolina have asked Congress to take further action regarding additional appropriations to help support future rebuilding efforts in Western North Carolina, which is still managing a projected $5 billion in road repair costs from Helene and other recent storms.

At the same time, North Carolina is also making headway on other large infrastructure projects, such as the current construction of a 10-lane bridge over Interstate 77, part of the state’s overall strategy for modernizing and building resilience into its transportation system.