SALUDA, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The North Carolina Department of Transportation has awarded a $32 million project to reconstruct 16 different sites on U.S. 176 destroyed by Tropical Storm Helene.

The contract was awarded to Blythe Construction of Charlotte, N.C., as the lowest qualified bidder. Reconstruction will require U.S. 176 to remain closed through late 2029. Interstate 26 will serve as a detour to access points on both sides of the closure.

What is being reconstructed on U.S. 176?

Reconstruction efforts will begin at the North Pacolet River and build upward to restore the road. Several sections of the southbound lane of U.S. 176 were washed away by Helene, with slopes dropping 60 feet down to the river.

“This project is one of the most complex reconstruction projects that resulted from Hurricane Helene,” said Division Engineer Wesley Grindstaff. “The corridor is highly constrained by the river on one side and rugged terrain on the other. Unfortunately, there is not enough room to make the repairs and allow traffic to use the road at the same time.”

Construction crews plan to rebuild the roadway, construct a causeway and build a temporary track back to the road with soil-nail walls, pine-panel walls and grouted rock embankments.

Years of work

The NCDOT said that the magnitude of the U.S. 176 project would usually require between five and seven years of planning, but that the project team had managed to complete designs, obtain permits and complete easement negotiations in less than two years.

“There are a lot of smart people who have spent extra hours hustling to get this project to the point where crews can begin moving equipment into the area,” Grindstaff said. “We are so thankful to have such a great pre-construction team on this project.”