Pete Buttigieg joins NC gov. on tour of Helene recovery efforts

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA) – Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined North Carolina Roy Cooper Tuesday to provide an update on infrastructure being rebuilt following Hurricane Helene.

The two toured damaged areas in western North Carolina to get an update how reconstruction is progressing in Asheville, Canton, and along Interstate 40 near the Tennessee border.

Mayor Esther Manheimer joined Cooper and Buttigieg as they toured the River Arts District in Asheville.

“There is nothing like being here and seeing it for yourself in speaking with people that have been impacted,” Buttigieg said. “It doubles our motivation to make sure that the is doing everything that we can.”

Later, the governor and transportation secretary traveled to Canton and join mayor Zeb Smathers for a walking tour.

Finally, Buttigieg and Cooper visited Interstate 40 to see progress on work being done to stabilize the westbound lanes of the interstate which has remained closed since Helene.

The NCDOT recently awarded a $10 million contract to Wright Brothers Construction for the stabilization work in Pigeon River Gorge.

The contract includes incentives to be completed by January 4, officials said.

NCDOT is working with transportation officials in Tennessee on a long-term plan for reconstruction of I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge.

The United States Department of Transportation has made $100 million in emergency relief funds available to the NCDOT and $32 million to the Tennessee Department of Transportation to help pay for the costs of emergency road work resulting from Helene damage.

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