ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Although heavy rains from tropical storm Alberto have now subsided, damage has already been done to over 50 roads extending across the mountain regions of western North Carolina.
N.C. Department of Transportation is encouraging drivers to avoid flooded roads and exercise extreme caution while driving in the area. They are currently working to repair damages and gradually reopen roads in 12 different counties as quickly as possible, safety permitting.
In some areas of the mountains, over 20 inches of rain has not been uncommon this month, resulting in the overflow of rivers onto roads and bridges, creating slippery and even flooded conditions. Heavy rain has also heightened the potential for landslides.
Restoration crews are actively trying to clear debris from a recent landslide that occurred late Tuesday night near the Buncombe-McDowell County line, in order to reopen a section of Interstate 40 close to Mile Marker 66. Further work is being done in Cherokee County and Surry County as NCDOT continues to respond as notified about incidents of impassable roads and unsafe conditions.
Other highways experiencing closures include U.S. 221 in Avery County and in Burke County near N.C. 183, the northbound lane of N.C. 80 and a section of U.S. 70 in McDowell County, and U.S. 64/74A north of Chimney Rock. Remaining closures are on secondary roads.
Officials have been taking the amount of damage done into consideration of whether roads are fit to be reopened. If deemed unsafe, crews are readily performing baseline repairs, cleaning ditches and roads of debris and clearing pipes. Roads with minimal damage done will reopen throughout the day as small areas of flooding and slides are cleared. As roads reopen, crews will then continue restoring roads, ditches and bridges to their original condition. For now, driver safety is the main concern of NCDOT officials.
Visit DriveNC.gov for further updates.
The following includes a list of other closed highways and some secondary rounds by county.
AVERY COUNTY:
U.S. 221
Pilot Ridge Road
McDOWELL COUNTY:
I-40 West: Outside lane closed
N.C. 80: Northbound lane closed
RUTHERFORD COUNTY:
U.S. 64/74A
POLK COUNTY:
U.S. 176: Between Harmon Field Road and Ozone Drive
Abrams & Moore Road
John Watson Road
Holberts Cove Road
Howard Gap Road
Green Rive Cove Road
Coxe Road
HENDERSON COUNTY:
Howard Gap Road
River Road
Butler Bridge Road
Hooper Lane
Balfour Road
Nix Road
Brookside Camp Road
Middle Fork Road
Ledbetter Road
New Hope Road
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY:
Island Ford Road
Barclay Road
Davidson River Road
Cascade Lake Road
Wilson Road
Green Road
Hart Road
Merrill Lane
JACKSON COUNTY:
Norton Road
Old Settlement Road
South River Road
SWAIN COUNTY:
Old River Road
MACON COUNTY:
River Road
Wayah Road
Junaluska Road
Carnes Road
Needmore Road
South Tryphosa Road
CLAY COUNTY:
Lance Cove Road
