2024 TS helene - replace bridge 100236 over reems creek on SR 2109 (OX creek road) in buncombe county. Bridge replacement

The Federal Highway Administration awarded the North Carolina Department of Transportation $9.048 million on June 5, 2026, under the Emergency Relief (ER) Program (CFDA 20.271) to replace Bridge 100236 over Reems Creek on State Road 2109 (Ox Creek Road) in Buncombe County, damaged by Hurricane Helene floodwaters, and to repair three additional FEMA sites included in the same express design-build contract: Bridge 100159 over Reems Creek on State Road 2155 (Blackberry Inn Road), Bridge 0210149 over Walker Branch Creek on State Road 2173 (Dillingham Road), and Culvert 0210449 on State Road 1390 (Sugar Creek Road).

The bridge replacement restores essential traffic on a federal-aid highway. Work is performed in North Carolina with a period of performance through October 1, 2034. The project qualifies as emergency repairs under 23 CFR 120(e)(1). The work is being completed via express design-build contract C205122. ER Program funding, authorized by 23 U.S.C. Section 125, supplements State and local resources to repair Federal-aid highways damaged by natural disasters. North Carolina was required to submit its ER application to FHWA within two calendar years of the September 2024 disaster.

Project description

Replace buncombe county bridge #236 (state bridge 100236 / federal structure 0210236) over reems creek on SR 2109 (OX creek road). This bridge was damaged by hurricane helene floodwaters. The bridge replacement is needed to restore essential traffic. The work is being completed via express design build contract C205122. Three FEMA sites are included in the contract as well: (1) bridge 100159 (federal structure 0210159) over reems creek on SR 2155 (blackberry INN road), (2) bridge 0210149 over walker branch creek on SR 2173 (dillingham road), and (3) culvert 0210449 on SR 1390 (sugar creek road). This project meets the criteria for emergency repairs as defined in 23 CFR 120(E)(1).