US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy was in Haywood County Monday morning to survey Hurricane Helene damage and recovery efforts along I-40 near the Tennessee line.

He was joined by Democrat Gov. Josh Stein, US Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, US Sen. Ted Budd, R-NC, US Rep. Chuck Edwards, R, NC-11, and US Rep. Tim Moore, R, NC-14.

Duffy told Fox News that much of the section of I-40 between North Carolina and Tennessee has been completely washed away. He said the stretch of roadway is such an important artery that “connects people and commerce not just between the states but across the country.” He estimated it would cost billions of dollars to rebuild and a lot of rock would be needed to fill back in the eroded interstate.

Stein confirmed on his X page that two lanes of I-40 in Haywood County will partially reopen on March 1. He said it would be for reduced speed two-way traffic and would remain a construction zone, advising drivers to remain cautious.

During the visit, Duffy announced a partnership between USDOT and the US Forest Service that will grant a “special use” permit for extracting rock and other construction materials from Forest Service land and a nearby river.

“We can get rock 30-40 miles away,” he told Fox News. “It’s going to take a lot of time and a lot of money, but the Forest Service can partner with us, and we think they’re really close, just about a mile and a half over this mountain. We can get access to rock that’ll drive down the cost and the time frame for which it will take to rebuild this road.”

Duffy added that they are looking to build quickly, cheaply, and safely; noting that the Trump administration moves lightning quick, unlike the speed of previous administrations.

The President previously visited Asheville and Swannanoa last month. He called FEMA a disaster and called for its possible elimination, criticizing the federal agency’s slow response to recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene. Trump proposed that states should take over disaster recovery operations directly, hinting at a major shift in how federal disaster aid is handled.

DHS Secretary Noem visits Swannanoa on Saturday

While in Swannanoa on Saturday, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that less than 20 days after Trump’s visit, the 47th president secured over $54 million for families in need and registered 2,600 families for assistance programs who had not yet received any assistance. She also said that in the past five days, they decreased the number of open cases by almost 80%.

“President Trump is ensuring that communities aren’t forgotten,” Noem said. She added that he also launched the first major initiative to connect farmers with recovery assistance.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated.

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Asheville Chuck Edwards Democratic Party Donald Trump Federal Emergency Management Agency Fox News Haywood County Hurricane Helene Interstate 40 Josh Stein Kristi Noem NC 14 North Carolina North Carolina's 11th congressional district Republican Party Swannanoa Ted Budd Tennessee Thom Tillis Tim Moore U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Department of Transportation Western North Carolina X
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