Officials discuss I-40 updates, promise quick progress
Sen. Thom Tillis steps off the asphalt to point something out to Rep. Tim Moore. Kyle Perrotti photo
Officials at all levels of government, including new U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, visited the construction area along I-40 near the Tennessee border to take a look at progress and renew the pledge to get the necessary repairs done as quickly and safely as possible.
Duffy was joined the morning of Feb. 10 by Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd; Reps. Chuck Edwards and Tim Moore; Gov. Josh Stein; NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins; Haywood County Sheriff Bill Wilke and Haywood County Commission Chair Kevin Ensley.
Duffy said that the federal government is committed to working with the state DOT and looks forward to further cooperation to expedite the project.
“I can promise you this, I’m not going to forget North Carolina,” Duffy said. “The first thing I said in my confirmation hearing was this was the first trip I was going to take.”
USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy (from left), NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins, Sen. Thom Tillis and Gov. Josh Stein share a laugh. Kyle Perrotti photo
While most of the comments offered by officials were promises to not forget about Western North Carolina, and especially its severed lifeline to interstate commerce, there were also a couple of new developments discussed. First, Stein announced that one lane in each direction from Western North Carolina into Eastern Tennessee will open up for traffic before March 1.
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“At least it will start the process of connecting Western North Carolina with the rest of the country,” Stein said.
In addition, Duffy said that his office is working with the U.S. Forest Service to source rocks necessary for the repair only a couple of miles from the construction area, something he says will speed up the repairs.
As Hurricane Helene ravaged the region, it also washed away significant portions of I-40 in Haywood County, creating a construction area that spans about four miles. In the months following the floods, officials expected one lane of travel in each direction to open up in January of this year. However, after an additional chunk of asphalt from the eastbound lane fell into the Pigeon River Gorge in December, delaying the reopening for what those same officials are now hoping will only end up being about two months.
USDOT Secretary Sean Duffey speaks with Haywood County Commission Chair Kevin Ensley. Kyle Perrotti photo
Wright Brothers Construction, with GeoStabilization International as a sub-contractor, was awarded the contract to stabilize the eastbound lanes and create a safe passage for one lane in each direction from Harmon Den to the state line and also worked on the most recent repairs. That company established soil-nail walls at 10 locations in the gorge. In 126 days, that operation involved 530 cubic-yards of shotcrete, 2,088 linear feet of soil nails, 15,200 pounds of steel in the center curb used to separate lanes of travel, four miles of fortified shoulder to carry heavy truck traffic and the installation of 90,000 square feet of soil-nail walls.
According to an NCDOT press release, crews tasked with the permanent reconstruction of I-40 will soon mobilize to begin their part of the recovery in the Gorge. NCDOT awarded a contract in October in which Ames Construction is serving as the prime contractor, RK&K as the designer and HNTB as the project manager for the permanent repairs.
On Monday, Duffy began his remarks by thanking and praising North Carolina’s federally elected leaders who were present — Budd, Tillis, Edwards and Moore.
“They do a fantastic job fighting to make sure Washington understands how important this is,” he said.
Duffy pledged that the Trump administration will remain committed to not only the I-40 project, but all storm recovery efforts across the region.
When talking about what changes can be made to the federal government’s approach to the I-40 project, he said there is one idea that has almost made it across the finish line that he thinks will make a difference. While rocks needed for the repair work are currently being sourced 25-30 miles away, there is a plan in the works to source it from only about two miles away. While he didn’t offer many specifics at the press event, a release sent out around the same time said that USDOT hopes to “obtain a ‘Special Use’ permit to use rock from Forest Service land and extract construction materials from the local river.”
It isn’t yet known what the application of river rock would be. Details weren’t provided about potential environmental impacts that could come from disturbing a waterway to remove rocks, and although expediting any permitting processes was mentioned, details weren’t provided on that.
Massive soil nails have been drilled into the earth to shore up the westbound lanes of I-40. NCDOT photo
“If we get that local rock, it’s going to mean this project happens much more cost effectively, and probably in a third of the amount of time,” Duffy said. “So the Forest Service has been willing to streamline, fast track the process, and we’re hopeful that we get a positive answer, which means we get the I 40 open that much quicker.”
For his part, Rep. Edwards didn’t have much to add when it came to sourcing the rocks for construction, but he did say he was optimistic, opining that the project wouldn’t take “one to two years” because opening the highway up all the way is crucial to businesses throughout the region.
When a reporter asked where that sense of confidence comes from, he said conversations with state and federal transportation officials have given him a “great deal of optimism,” barring unforeseen circumstances.
Along with announcing that one lane of travel in each direction should open by March 1, Stein reminded reporters that while state DOT workers are making great progress, there is still a lot of work to be done and a lot more funding to be secured for I-40 and beyond. Of the estimated $60 billion in total damage from Helene, Stein said about $5 billion is needed for road repairs.
“That’s an incredible amount of money,” he said. “We cannot do that ourselves. We need the help of the federal government. Our congressional delegation has been there championing our cause, but we all need to keep pressing together to make sure we have the resources that we need to get the job done. We’re not going to give up on the west.”
