CHIMNEY ROCK — The North Carolina Department of Transportation has made substantial progress on the roughly 9,000 projects that arose in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene more than 22 months ago, but substantial work remains on some of the most consequential, even as Mother Nature continues to interfere.
Repairs in the Pigeon River Gorge area have begun on the eastbound lane of I-40 after water from Pigeon River damaged the interstate when Tropical Storm Helene came through western North Carolina, in this photo from Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024.
Mike Patton, resident engineer for the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division 14, looks on as NCDOT Division 13 Construction Engineer Nathaniel Moneyham speaks with reporters about ongoing recovery work in Chimney Rock on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
Repairs in the Pigeon River Gorge area have begun on the eastbound lane of I-40 after water from Pigeon River damaged the interstate when Tropical Storm Helene came through western North Carolina, in this photo from Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024.
Mike Patton, resident engineer for the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division 14, looks on as NCDOT Division 13 Construction Engineer Nathaniel Moneyham speaks with reporters about ongoing recovery work in Chimney Rock on Thursday, July 30, 2026.