POLK COUNTY, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Permanent repairs are now getting underway on a heavily damaged stretch of Green River Cove Road in Polk County, marking a major step in recovery efforts following Tropical Storm Helene.
The work is part of a $23.2 million contract awarded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, which says the goal is to fully rebuild and restore long-term access for both residents and visitors.
“The damage on Green River Cove Road was substantial, and we acknowledge the impacts that this has had on the community,” Division 14 Engineer Wesley Grindstaff said. “We have worked very hard to get these repairs designed and under contract to fully restore use of the roadway for local residents and visitors.”
Contractor crews with Site Development of Cliffside are starting work along the riverside section between Fishtop Access and Silver Creek Road. That phase is expected to be completed before next spring, with crews potentially using temporary lane closures and flaggers as needed.
For now, drivers and recreation users still have access to the area via Silver Creek Road from Mill Spring, thanks to temporary repairs completed earlier by NCDOT crews.
Once the riverside segment is finished, work will shift next year to a more complex section from Holbert Cove Road to Fishtop Access. That stretch includes more than 15 hairpin curves and climbs nearly 1,000 feet in elevation. Plans call for multiple retaining walls on both sides of the roadway to stabilize slopes and reduce the risk of future slides.
The full reconstruction project is expected to wrap up in early 2029.
Transportation officials are urging drivers to stay alert in the work zones, obey posted signs and follow flagger instructions for the safety of both motorists and construction crews.