Blog

I just returned from the mountains, where we had a wonderful ceremony Tuesday to mark the reopening of the stretch of Interstate 40 that had been closed since Oct. 25 because of a rockslide.

Cleaning up and stabilizing the mountain was a tremendous challenge. Crews spent months battling harsh winter weather as they blasted and removed 7,000 truckloads of rocks – enough to cover 37 football fields with a one-foot layer of rock. They also used a helicopter to install 540 rock bolts deep into the slope.

It was a real team effort, involving DOT officials from North Carolina and Tennessee, the Federal Highway Administration and the National Forest Service. They received tremendous support from Gov. Perdue, other state and local elected officials, the tourism community, the media and, of course, the public. It was an honor to be able to acknowledge their contributions at the recently reopened Welcome Center at mile marker 10.5.

It was a privilege to share the podium with Board of Transportation member Conrad Burrell and Cece Hipps, Executive Director of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, who noted the hardships endured by local residents as well as interstate truckers and travelers for whom I-40 is not just a road but a lifeline.

We marked a major milestone on Tuesday but we recognize that our job is not done. While the road is now safe for travel, crews will continue work through the summer to stabilize several sites in the area. Although it was cold and rainy outside, a warm spirit reined inside the Welcome Center. Every member of the rockslide team had a reason to smile as we watched the cars and trucks stream by on I-40.

As Chief Engineer of NCDOT, I help coordinate ice and snow removal efforts statewide – but 15 years ago, I was one of the guys working at the local level to prepare for a storm. Today, I’m reminded of what it was like working those long hours in tough conditions.  
Not only will it be cold, but it could be dangerous.

We’ve been in constant contact with our engineers in the field to make sure everyone is equipped and ready to go when winter weather hits. NCDOT crews have laid salt brine on the roads to prevent ice from forming on the pavement. Our maintenance yards are fully stocked with salt to help melt ice and snow. Snow plows and other snow removal equipment are fully functional and ready to help keep the roads clear during and after the storm.

Crews are prepared to work overtime this weekend, scheduling special shifts and keeping additional staff on standby to ensure they can adequately respond to storm conditions. Times like now, we work as one team - those that see minimal bad weather will be able to move their staff and equipment if necessary to places that have been harder hit.

It will be a long weekend for a number of NCDOT employees, many of whom are leaving their families at home while they work to keep the roads safe for you and your loved ones. I encourage everyone to try and be where you need to be by midnight tonight and stay off the roads this weekend so we can keep our crews, and your families, as safe as possible.