{"id":2408947,"date":"2025-03-03T11:22:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T16:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/key-portion-of-north-carolinas-i-40-partially-reopens-after-helene-damage-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-03-03T11:24:03","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T16:24:03","slug":"key-portion-of-north-carolinas-i-40-partially-reopens-after-helene-damage-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/key-portion-of-north-carolinas-i-40-partially-reopens-after-helene-damage-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Key portion of North Carolina\u2019s I-40 partially reopens after Helene damage &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fkey-portion-of-north-carolinas-i-40-partially-reopens-after-helene-damage-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2408947&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A \u200bkey section of Interstate 40 in\u2062 North Carolina has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-baby-formula-crisis-is-still-getting-worse\/\" title=\"The Baby Formula Crisis Is Still Getting Worse\">partially reopened<\/a> after being damaged by Hurricane Helene in\u2063 September 2024. The North \u2064Carolina Department \u2062of Transportation\u2064 (NCDOT) announced that one lane \u2064in\u2063 each direction through \u2062the \u200dPigeon River \u2062Gorge corridor is now accessible, although modifications \u200csuch as narrow \u200clanes and\u2063 a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-wildfires-fully-contained-after-month-of-efforts-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"California wildfires fully contained after month of efforts - Washington Examiner\">reduced speed limit<\/a> of 35 mph are in\u2062 affect. Standard 18-wheelers can use\u2063 this stretch of the highway, but wide \u2062loads are directed to choice routes. NCDOT officials emphasized the \u2062importance\u2062 of \u200bthis reopening for facilitating travel and commerce \u200dbetween North \u200cCarolina and Tennessee. <\/p>\n<p>Despite the progress, \u2064North Carolina lawmakers \u200bare still working \u2064on\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/done-with-the-cover-ups-lawmaker-announces-date-for-ufo-hearing\/\" title=\"Lawmaker sets date for UFO hearing, vows to end cover-ups.\">additional \u2062funding<\/a> for rebuilding efforts, with a proposal for \u200b$500 million in aid having \u2064been passed in the state House. \u200cThis request, however, falls short \u200dof the $1.07 billion initially sought\u2062 by Governor \u2063Josh Stein. The reopening of I-40 is seen as a notable step in the \u2064recovery efforts, with further work needed to restore infrastructure affected \u200cby the hurricane.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Key portion of North Carolina&rsquo;s I-40 partially reopens after Helene damage<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2026563\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/north-carolina\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"North Carolina\">North Carolina<\/a> is still rebuilding after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hurricane-helene\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Hurricane Helene\">Hurricane Helene<\/a>&lsquo;s devastation, but a key piece of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">infrastructure partially reopened<\/a> over the weekend.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In the western part of the Tar Heel State, parts of various roadways vital for interstate travel and commerce, including Interstate-40, were washed away during flooding caused by the storm in September 2024. While the Tennessee portion of the interstate reopened in October, on Saturday, the North Carolina portion through the Pigeon River Gorge corridor reopened with one lane going in each direction.<\/p>\n<p>The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced that the highway would be open with narrow lanes, a reduced speed limit of 35 miles per hour, and an emergency-only lane on the eastbound side of the road. Other temporary modifications will be in effect as the road continues to be rebuilt.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are happy to have this open for the people who depend on a connected transportation system between North Carolina and Tennessee,&rdquo; NCDOT Division 14 Engineer Wanda Payne said in a statement ahead of the reopening. &ldquo;This opening improves the flow of people, goods and services between our two states and between locations far beyond Haywood County.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>NCDOT says that standard 18-wheelers are allowed on the reopened portion of I-40, but wide loads are not yet permitted on the roadway. Officials urge drivers with wide loads to use I-77 and I-81 to travel between Tennessee and North Carolina.<\/p>\n<p>Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy celebrated the reopening of the vital roadway and stressed that rebuilding the areas battered by Hurricane Helene is a priority of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s administration.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s still a lot of work to do, but the reopening of I-40 today is a big step in the right direction,&rdquo; Duffy <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SecDuffy\/status\/1895835798303342895\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"said\">said<\/a> in a post on X.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Today, Interstate 40 reopens in North Carolina and Tennessee after a five month closure from Hurricane Helene. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@POTUS<\/a> made rebuilding these states a priority. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/USDOT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@USDOT<\/a> is committed to making that happen as fast and efficiently as possible. <\/p>\n<p>There&rsquo;s still a lot of work to do, but&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6r3kW5Th6S\">pic.twitter.com\/6r3kW5Th6S<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SecDuffy\/status\/1895835798303342895?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 1, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/3334727\/hundreds-of-blazes-break-out-atlantic-coast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"HUNDREDS OF BLAZES BREAK OUT ALONG ATLANTIC COAST\">HUNDREDS OF BLAZES BREAK OUT ALONG ATLANTIC COAST<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>While the hurricane hit more than five months ago, North Carolina lawmakers are still working to pass funding to rebuild the affected parts of their state.<\/p>\n<p>Lawmakers in the North Carolina House unanimously <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3330945\/north-carolina-house-passes-helene-aid-josh-stein-wants-more\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"passed\">passed<\/a> $500 million in aid for rebuilding roads and homes, among other efforts. The measure still needs approval from the state Senate but comes in below the $1.07 billion Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC) requested. Nevertheless, lawmakers were clear they intended to approve additional funds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2026563\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2026563\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I-40 in North Carolina partially reopens after Hurricane Helene damage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2408948,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/i-40-reopens-north-Carolina.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[41852,47221,3902,32258,4546],"class_list":["post-2408947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-helene","tag-i-40","tag-infrastructure","tag-north-carolina","tag-reopening"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/i-40-reopens-north-Carolina.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2408947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2408947"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2408947\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2408951,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2408947\/revisions\/2408951"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2408948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2408947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2408947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2408947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}