NORTH CAROLINA, USA — The almost 5-mile stretch of Interstate 40 in the Pigeon River Gorge between Tennessee and North Carolina is about to enter its next phase as crews finish up temporary fixes and design work nearly a year after Hurricane Helene.

The main work to permanently fix the interstate is set to begin this fall, and NCDOT leaders said it's likely to last through 2028.

In September 2024, catastrophic river flooding caused by Hurricane Helene eroded the base of hillsides along the Pigeon River and swallowed portions of I-40.

Josh Deyton, the District 14 Construction Engineer for NCDOT, said they're finalizing a design that will withstand everything the interstate went through in September.

"We're taking extra careful steps to make sure that our structures are keyed in and t

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