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.
Helene One-Year Event
State Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins and incoming Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson joined Governor Stein and federal, state and local leaders for an event marking one year since the storm devastated western North Carolina. Officials took time to look back. And, to look ahead.
“While it is important to reflect on the many accomplishments over the past year,” Johnson said. “There is no time to rest until the restoration of roadways in North Carolina is complete.”
Helene damaged more than 9,400 locations on the state-maintained road system, including nearly 850 bridges and more than 1,850 pipes and culverts.
Since then, the department has completed repairs to more than 6,800 of those damaged sites and repaired more than 500 bridges and nearly every damaged drainage pipe.
On I-40, contract crews are building a temporary bridge across the Pigeon River to access stone that will be used to rebuild and reinforce the interstate.
Our work continues not just in Haywood County, but in the 17 other heavily impacted western North Carolina counties as well. Everybody has been able to access their neighborhoods and homes on state roads since last winter thanks to our temporary repairs.
Today, many permanent repairs are complete. And those that are not, are in progress — either with engineers drawing blueprints or construction underway.
Johnson Sworn In
Secretary Johnson, who was sworn in to his new position this week, noted Helene recovery is one of his top priorities.
“The department is going to remain focused,” Johnson said. “It is going to remain our number one priority until we have completely restored the road infrastructure of North Carolina.”
His other priorities include safety, innovation, improvements to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, and attracting and retaining a skilled workforce at NCDOT.
For more on Secretary Johnson, visit www.NCDOT.gov.