A stretch of Interstate 40 destroyed by Hurricane Helene could fully reopen by the end ...

A stretch of Interstate 40 destroyed by Hurricane Helene could fully reopen by the end of 2029, at a cost of about $2.8 billion, transportation officials say.

New estimates from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, released Wednesday, show reconstruction costs soaring from a previous estimate of about $2 billion, citing new geotechnical information including deeper bedrock in certain areas. Around five miles of Interstate 40 were severely damaged or destroyed in the Pigeon River Gorge in Haywood County during September 2024. Crews are rebuilding the highway, nestled between a steep mountainside and the Pigeon River, using roller-compacted concrete walls, interlocking pipe pile walls and other elements designed to withstand the same forces that destroyed the previous roadway.

Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson called it the most complex reconstruction NCDOT has ever conducted and said the department remains focused on delivering a safe, durable solution while managing taxpayer dollars.

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Source note: Star News TV · Sep 4, 2026 4:01 AM.