BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Representatives from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) provided updates on the status of transportation infrastructure during a Buncombe County briefing on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
David Uchiyama, NCDOT communications officer, said access has greatly improved across Western North Carolina. More than 1,100 roads have reopened since Helene hit and there are currently less than 270 that remain closed across the entire region.
Uchiyama said that 8,795 locations have been identified as damaged as of last week.
The current general estimate to restore roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure is approximately $5 billion.
NCDOT PREPARES FOR FIRST MOUNTAIN SNOWFALL SINCE HELENE, URGES CAUTION AMID ROAD REPAIRS
NCDOT Division 13 Engineer Tim Anderson said crews have identified nearly 2,000 damaged locations in Buncombe County.
“Damage severity varies widely from a small site that may take half a day to repair to a major repair like a bridge replacement,” Anderson said.
NCDOT crews have transitioned to stabilizing temporary access for residents in rural Buncombe County communities.
Anderson said that at any given time, approximately 70 to 100 NCDOT employees from across the state are assisting with repairs in the northern part of Buncombe County. DOT employees from Kentucky and Florida have also assisted with recovery.