SWANNANOA, NC – The North Carolina Department of Transportation is removing barricades on a Swannanoa bridge that was damaged by Hurricane Helene on Wednesday.
NCDOT and contract crews from the greater Asheville area completed major repairs to the Whitson Avenue Bridge reconnecting U.S. 70 to Old U.S. 70 which are the two main roads through town. Massive flooding from the hurricane washed out areas approaching the bridge from both sides as well as the piles in the river.
Crews repaired the approaches with new fill material, built a wall behind the southern abutment, replaced a concrete slab approaching the bridge, and applied new asphalt and curb and gutter. NCDOT also rebuilt nearby portions of Old U.S. 70 with new asphalt, and installed new traffic signals.
The Swannanoa Grassroots Alliance will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony on the bridge at noon. NCDOT has repaired or replaced 213 bridges, 41 large culverts and 743 small culverts damaged by Hurricane Helene, and reopened 89 percent of roads closed by the storm.
