RALEIGH – The following are highlights from this week at the N.C. Department of Transportation. The stories below are also featured in NCDOT Now, the department's weekly newscast.
Interstate 40 to Reopen
Secretary Hopkins and Governor Stein announced this week that one lane in each direction of I-40 will open to traffic March 1, reconnecting our state to Tennessee.
Damage from the storm closed a portion of I-40 in late September.
USDOT Secretary Visits
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy visited I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge this week to view the impressive recovery effort.
Duffy announced expedited federal support from the Trump Administration to support the reconstruction.
Old Rail Cars
The department has contracted with a company in Burke County to repurpose old railroad cars as temporary bridges until permanent bridges are constructed in the coming years.
More than 40 temporary bridges have been constructed from the steel rail cars.
NCDOT Symposium
The 2025 NCDOT Research and Innovation Symposium at N.C. State University brought together transportation industry representatives to explore innovative ways to prepare for the future.
The event featured tech demonstrations, and sessions on Artificial Intelligence, how data is changing scientific discovery, and the state's recovery from Hurricane Helene.
For more information about NCDOT Now, contact the NCDOT Communications Office at (919) 707-2660. Additional news stories from throughout the week can be found on the NCDOT website homepage.