CHIMNEY ROCK, N.C. —

The North Carolina Department of Transportation said it is about to start permanent repairs to the road connecting Chimney Rock and Bat Cave as the area continues to recover from Hurricane Helene.

NCDOT engineers said Helene's flooding created about an 80-foot drop from where the permanent road between the two communities is located and the riverbed. Latest Forecast

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"It's a significant challenge there to make that repair, and we knew that it was something that was going to take a certain amount of time for design work and construction," engineer Nathan Moneyham said.

Now, a two-and-a-half-mile temporary road along the Broad River connects Chimney Rock and Bat Cave. Engineers said the road cost about $25 million

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