The permits allowed construction materials to be sourced locally.
A 12-mile stretch of Interstate 40 connecting North Carolina to Tennessee that was destroyed by Hurricane Helene five months ago has reopened. The vital Appalachian freight corridor through North Carolina’s Pigeon River Gorge has two lanes operational, rather than the usual four, with concrete barriers and construction zone speed restrictions.
The trucking route is a link from the ports on the East Coast to Midwestern distribution hubs. The destruction of the interstate impacted tourist revenue as well as supply chains.
Transportation Department Secretary Sean Duffy stated, “President Trump directed me to build infrastructure faster, better, and more affordably.”
The Transportation Department collaborated with the U.S. Forest Service to reduce costs and construction time through “Special Use” permits that allowed materials to be sourced locally. Using the material from a local river rather than hauling it from over 20 miles away reduced the project timeline and cost by two-thirds of the previous administration’s estimate.
“Too often, the federal government creates obstacles that slow recovery and drive up costs,” Secretary Duffy noted. “This time, we’re cutting through those burdensome barriers to get the job done.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Duffy to be led by the Lord as he heads the Department of Transportation.
- For wisdom for federal officials as they seek to facilitate and expedite recovery from natural disasters.
Sources: CNN, PJ Media
