North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Traffic may be flowing in both directions on Interstate 40 through the Pigeon River Gorge by New Year’s Day, after a stabilization project securing the westbound lanes is completed.
The Pigeon River washed away the interstate’s eastbound lanes in four long swaths following Hurricane Helene.
NCDOT awarded an $8.5 million contract to Wright Brothers Construction for the stabilization repairs. GeoStabilization International is the subcontractor building the soil-nail wall.
Crews are stabilizing several thousand feet of I-40 by installing soil-nail walls on areas cut by the flooded Pigeon River. The operation involves inserting long rods into bedrock below the road, filling them with grout to adhere the rods to the rock, and spraying concrete on the cut face to secure the rods and create a solid wall.
As the operation concludes, crews will install a concrete safety barrier on 5 miles of the remaining westbound lanes in North Carolina. The wall will separate eastbound and westbound traffic from the double tunnel to the Tennessee state line. For 4 miles of I-40 in Tennessee, a two-lane pattern will be in place for local traffic only.
Long-term reconstruction plans are still in early development.
NCDOT has hired RK&K as the design firm, Ames Construction as the contractor, and HNTB as the project manager. No timeframe has been set for selecting a design, starting construction, or estimating the cost.
“We are optimistic that our contract partners can complete the work, establish one narrow lane in each direction, and create a safe work zone for the long-term restoration,” said Wanda Payne, NCDOT Division 14 Engineer. “We are working to open I-40 when it is safe, and it will be tight for everybody. But with patience, everyone will be able to get through.”
Completion of the stabilization project will allow vehicles to travel at 40 mph in one lane in each direction over a 9-mile stretch of the gorge in Tennessee and North Carolina. This configuration will also provide room for another contractor to complete long-term repairs over the coming years.
“Opening one lane in both directions reestablishes critical connectivity for the transport of goods and services through the mountains,” Payne said. “It won’t be like it was for a long time, but it will be better than it has been in recent weeks.”
