BRUNSWICK COUNTY — With extensive structural damage to area roads — some crumbling and collapsing due to torrential flooding from Monday’s tropical system — the North Carolina Department of Transportation said Tuesday it is working feverishly to evaluate damage and begin repairs.
READ MORE: Stranded: Locals, tourists stuck as flooding overwhelms coastal regions
“Our primary goal is to get things back open,” NCDOT Division Maintenance Engineer Battle Whitley said during a press conference held in Leland.
Whitley was addressing road closures and delays that left some travelers stranded on U.S. 17 for more than 12 hours on Monday. By Tuesday evening, no remaining cars or travelers were stuck on the highway, though water remains in some areas.
“There’s not a whole lot we can do until the water goes down,” Whtiley said. “We’re not waiting. I mean, we’re out working right now. But, again, there’s some areas where we have to wait for the water to recede.”
Whitley said efforts are focused on identifying affected areas, setting up barricades and assessing damage. Priority is given to high-traffic areas, which may involve waiting for standing water to recede — such as on U.S. 17. As of now, Highway 211 from U.S. 17 to 74 are clear. Other sections near Town Creek Bridge have standing water.
Media asked the department how many roads were damaged and when people could expect repairs but Whitley couldn’t provide details.
By Port City Daily’s count, more than 25 roads are currently shuttered according to NCDOT’s traffic information website. The causes range from at least 13 massive sinkholes to nine full collapses, not to mention countless being inundated by high water rise.
Brunswick County spokesperson Meagan Kascsak responded to Port City Daily after press that it’s unknown when the water will lessen enough for passthrough.
“Even then, the roads will still need to be inspected to ensure they are safe,” she indicated.
By the county’s tabulations, Kascsak added at least 130 roads were closed due to the storm, though many had reopened by Tuesday.
NCDOT indicated its priorities are centered on U.S. 17, Highway 133, N.C. 87 and N.C. 211.
Whitley manages district three, including Brunswick, Duplin, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender, and Sampson counties. He said the department is working with other agencies to identify and assess damaged areas, noting some have been difficult for his team to reach.
“We’re trying to get there as soon as we can,” he said. “And we’re gonna get the roads open as soon as we can. We want them open just as fast as everybody else does. That’s our mission — we’re trying to get there.”
Whitley has asked drivers to steer clear of roadways in the meantime.
“Please, just hunker down, put something on the grill, sit back, and we’ll get to you soon,” he said.
Exactly when the roadways will be reopened depends on prioritization and availability of resources. Some sites will need extensive repairs and specific materials — for example, some require Whitley’s team to gauge hydraulic systems and ensure correct pipe sizes.
Additionally, environmental concerns and regulatory requirements will influence the process.
Whitley added the department will secure the necessary funds for repairs “one way or another.”
While NCDOT has an emergency fund, it might not cover all the repair costs. There is a chance NCDOT may seek assistance from FEMA, according to Whitley. The last time NCDOT received FEMA support was during Hurricane Florence when it was reimbursed $1.9 million for debris removal.
Port City Daily asked the NCDOT when the last time U.S. 17, N.C. 211, and N.C. 87 had been repaved, how old the roads were, and how much funding has gone into them in the past decade. The agency responded to submit a public records request for the information, which was done Tuesday.
Inquiries about the causes of the multiple collapses and how so much damage across so many roads happened is being investigated by the agency.
“It is too early to determine,” NCDOT Spokesperson Lauren Haviland wrote to Port City Daily in an email Tuesday.
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