Unprecedented federal coordination delivers early win for I-40 rebuilding effort
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced a major milestone in the Interstate-40 recovery efforts in North Carolina. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) successfully cleared a number of legal barriers to allow the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to acquire construction material from the adjacent Pisgah National Forest sooner than originally anticipated. The materials, which are just 1 to 3 miles away from the construction site, were originally expected to be sourced from 20 to 50 miles away – increasing project costs and slowing the rebuild effort. By significantly expediting the process, the Department of Transportation has delivered estimated savings of two-thirds in both cost and time- amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Under the leadership of Secretary Duffy, FHWA and the United States Forest Service (USFS) have worked in close coordination to accelerate the necessary approvals, completing a process that typically lasts six months in just over one month. This accelerated timeline ensures that NCDOT gains immediate access to essential resources to begin construction operations at multiple material sites and rebuild critical infrastructure that connects local residents and improves interstate commerce.
“This is another major milestone in the Hurricane Helene recovery efforts along I-40,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “I’m proud of the Department’s hard work to ensure North Carolina can access a critical resource to rebuild efficiently and safely. This is what the Trump administration is all about – cutting red tape, saving taxpayer dollars, and delivering real solutions for the American people.”
On background:
Hurricane Helene washed out 10 sections of the eastbound lanes and shoulders across approximately four miles of I-40 along the Pigeon River on September 30, 2024. In February, while visiting the damage along I-40 in North Carolina, Secretary Duffy announced that USDOT successfully partnered with the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service to help accelerate the reconstruction efforts. This unprecedented, multi-agency effort helped USDOT obtain a letter of consent and right of entry to allow the NCDOT to access the Pisgah National Forest to begin critical construction activities.
Originally, NCDOT requested access to multiple material sites by May 9th to support I-40 repairs; allowing FHWA not only to meet but exceed expectations by securing access to seven material sites and fast-tracking the overall timeline. FHWA remains on track to meet its goal of transferring property rights to NCDOT, ensuring that recovery efforts continue without delay. As of today, NCDOT is allowed physical access to the sites.