2024 hurricane helene - permanent repairs to US 19 east near penland road and golf drive in mitchell CO. Stream bank stabilization and slope repairs

The Federal Highway Administration awarded the North Carolina Department of Transportation $504,005 on April 1, 2026, under the Emergency Relief (ER) Program (CFDA 20.271) to repair permanent damage to two NCDOT mitigation sites on US 19 East in Mitchell County caused by Hurricane Helene floodwaters. The sites were originally constructed as part of a 2015 US 19 East widening project and include non-National Bridge Inspection Standards pipes requiring restoration.

Work at the Penland Road site (mitigation site 30, pipe BP-061-2145) on the upper tributary of Brushy Creek encompasses streambank restoration, erosion repairs, and slope stabilization. Work at the Golf Drive site (mitigation site 33, pipe BP-061-4099) on the upper tributary of Bushy Creek includes stream bank stabilization and slope repairs along the roadway. Both sites are being restored to pre-storm conditions. The project is classified as a Project Grant with performance in North Carolina and an ultimate completion date of October 1, 2034.

Project description

This project will repair two NCDOT mitigation sites connected to the 2015 widening of US 19 east (stip project R-2519B). These sites were damaged by floodwaters associated with hurricane helene and are being restored to preexisting storm conditions. The US 19 east site near SR 1160 (penland road) is mitigation site 30 at the upper tributary of brushy creek and includes non- national bridge inspection standards(NBIS) pipe, BP-061-2145. Permanent repairs for the penland road site include streambank restoration, erosion repairs, and slope stabilization. The US 19 east site near gold drive is mitigation site 33 at the upper tributary of bushy creek and includes non-NBIS pipe, BP-061-4099. Permanent repairs for the golf drive site include stream bank stabilization and slope repairs along the roadway.