The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has announced the completion of extensive repairs on the Whitson Avenue Bridge in Swannanoa, North Carolina. The bridge connects U.S. Highway 70 and Old U.S. Highway 70 near Asheville, which reopened to traffic on Wednesday, February 26.
After several months of dedicated repair efforts, the barricades will be removed, restoring a critical connection between two key transportation routes. Tim Anderson, an NCDOT Division 13 engineer, expressed his gratitude to the local community: “We are proud to serve the Swannanoa community. We are also humbled by the outpouring of appreciation for the work we have completed to reconnect the community.”
To celebrate this milestone, the Swannanoa Grassroots Alliance put on a bridge reopening ceremony the same day.
Repairs from Hurricane Helene Damage
The Whitson Avenue Bridge was significantly damaged when flooding from Hurricane Helene washed out the approaches leading to the structure. The NCDOT crews carried out several essential repairs, including:
- Rebuilding the approaches with new fill materials.
- Constructing a retaining wall behind the southern abutment.
- Replacing the concrete slab leading up to the bridge.
- Laying fresh asphalt and installing a new curb and gutter system.
- Installing new asphalt and upgraded traffic signals on Old U.S. Highway 70.
This successful bridge restoration is part of NCDOT’s larger effort to address widespread hurricane damage. The department has repaired or replaced 213 bridges and restored nearly 800 culverts affected by the storm. Of the roads once closed due to Hurricane Helene, approximately 89% have now reopened.
I-40 to Reopen Soon with Restrictions
Further west, Interstate 40 in western North Carolina is on track to reopen by March 1. “I am proud of NCDOT’s focus on this challenge and the roadworkers who have worked tirelessly to reopen roads and keep people safe,” said North Carolina Governor Josh Stein in a recent statement.
Sections of I-40—between Exits 20 and 15 and from Exit 7 to the Tennessee state line—will soon be available for standard-size trucks, though oversize load restrictions will remain in place. The permanent reconstruction of I-40 is scheduled to begin soon, with Ames Construction named the primary contractor for the project.
Source: Land Line
