Transportation secretary announces $1.15 billion in relief funding for Hurricane Helene repairs

WASHINGTON, D.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced on Tuesday that the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will receive $1.15 billion in additional funding for Hurricane Helene repairs.

This emergency relief funding is the largest single allocation under the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program for a state in the department’s history. USDOT has provided nearly $2 billion in ER funding for NC’s Hurricane Helene repairs.

“President Trump promised no North Carolinian would be left behind. Today’s announcement reflects that continued commitment to get America building again,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “This historic investment in the recovery effort is just one of many actions my Department has taken to support the region. Since January, we’ve toured the damage, slashed red tape, and expedited the I-40 highway rebuild. We will not rest until the communities devastated by Hurricane Helene are made whole again.”

Earlier this year, Secretary Duffy announced NCDOT would receive $400 million in ER funding to repair roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure damaged by Helene.

Later this week, Administrator McMaster and Federal Highway Administration officials will join local leaders to inspect the progress made on I-40. The inspection follows Duffy’s February visit to NC, where he announced a partnership between USDOT and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS ) to secure a “Special Use” permit. The permit allows NCDOT to source rock from USFS land and extract construction materials from a nearby river—just 1–3 miles from the site—rather than transporting them 20–50 miles. This commonsense approach reduces project time and costs, speeding up the highway’s reconstruction.

“Under the leadership of Secretary Duffy, the Department is helping North Carolina get critical transportation infrastructure back up and running quickly and safely,” said Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster. “Across the country, the Federal Highway Administration will continue to work hand-in-hand with states to revitalize our vital transportation networks and keep the public moving.”