North Carolina officials have solidified a major safety partnership with AMES Construction to advance the ongoing rebuilding of Interstate 40 in the Pigeon River Gorge — a highway segment critically damaged by Helene and now under long-term reconstruction.
The closure of I-40 cut off a key east-west commerce and tourism corridor for Western North Carolina, forcing months-long detours and drastically reduced mobility across Haywood County. The roadway has since reopened, but only with one lane in each direction as repairs continue.
The partnership, originally announced on Oct. 14 in Clyde, was officially formalized Wednesday at the construction zone, where state leaders gathered to emphasize workforce safety as a central priority for the rebuild.
“Rebuilding I-40 is about more than repairing a highway. It’s about restoring opportunity, resilience, and hope,”
said North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley.
Under the formal agreement, the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) and its Occupational Safety and Health Division will take on a direct role in guiding health and safety practices during reconstruction. The partnership includes:
• Increased on-site safety training
• Hazard prevention strategies tailored to rockslide-prone terrain
• Frequent monitoring and technical support
• Worker well-being initiatives throughout the multi-year rebuild
The Federal Highway Administration and state environmental regulators recently approved permits allowing rock removal and slope stabilization operations — one of the most complex engineering challenges in the gorge.
NCDOT officials have described the effort as a generational task:
A “once-in-a-career event,” according to agency leaders working on the reconstruction.
Restoring full mobility along I-40 is critical for:
• Supply chain and freight routes
• Tourism access to Asheville and the Smokies
• Emergency response and public safety
The project will involve advanced geotechnical engineering, improved storm resilience, and reinforced safety barriers to reduce future shutdowns triggered by landslides or extreme weather.
State leaders say the partnership structure will help ensure construction quality while protecting the crews performing difficult and dangerous work.
More detailed project timelines and lane opening schedules are expected in future NCDOT updates as crews progress deeper into rock excavation and bridge repairs.
North Carolina officials stress that as recovery continues, the overarching mission remains clear: rebuild safer, stronger, and ready for the future.
Originally reported by Mia Mendez in ABC 13 News.
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