500 days after Helene, NC's private bridge, road rebuild program set to begin
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- More than a year after Hurricane Helene, North Carolina's private bridge and road rebuild program is set to begin progress on hundreds of projects.
Officials say the focus is to ensure emergency vehicles can reach people like Earmel Wheeler, whose bridge to his property was destroyed.
Wheeler and his family are encouraged that contractors will break ground on a new bridge this April.
"We actually had meetings with a county guy and a state lady," he said. "They've been surveying both sides of the river."
In Buncombe County, officials report progress on nearly 1,000 bridges and road requests -- 49 is complete, 8 are under construction, 12 are designed, with more scheduled
SEE ALSO: Hurricane Helene: One Year Later: WNC leans into its resilience, faith and hope
