Congressman Edwards Leads Letter to Move Forward Hurricane Helene Recovery Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to expedite the processing of a critical borrow site permit needed to move forward with North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reconstruction projects related to Hurricane Helene recovery.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, vital highways across Western North Carolina suffered devastating damage. U.S. 74A, from Gerton through Bat Cave to Chimney Rock, was among the hardest hit, and timely restoration is essential to reconnect the Hickory Nut Gorge community and support local recovery efforts.

Materials from the proposed 50-acre borrow site, located in Rutherford County near the Henderson County line, are necessary to rebuild U.S. 74A and will free up limited quarry production for other hurricane-related repairs throughout Western North Carolina. In addition to Congressman Edwards, the letter to USACE and USFWS was signed by Senator Thom Tillis, Senator Tedd Budd, and Congressman Tim Moore.

“Western North Carolina can’t afford any more delays while families and businesses continue recovering from Hurricane Helene,”said Congressman Edwards.“Each day these permits are stalled is another day our mountain communities remain cut off and our economy suffers. I’m calling on federal agencies to act with the urgency this recovery demands so we can rebuild U.S. 74A and restore the lifelines our people depend on.”

The full text of the letter can be found here.