12 Investigates: Gov. Stein establishes program to repair bridges in Western NC

The governor's office said 8,000 private roads and bridges still need to be repaired in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene hit six months ago.

The governor's office said 8,000 private roads and bridges still need to be repaired in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene hit six months ago.

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BACK TO OUR 12 INVESTIGATES SERIES. THIS WEEK, THE STATE OF BRIDGES HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE SAYS 8000 PRIVATE ROADS AND BRIDGES STILL NEED TO BE REPAIRED IN WESTERN COUNTIES. AFTER HELENE, OUR JOSHUA DAVIS TRAVELED THERE FOR A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT THE REMAINING DAMAGE AND EXPLAINS HOW THE GOVERNOR’S BRIDGES REPAIR PROGRAM HOPES TO HELP FIX THAT. TELL ME, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE? THIS IS A LOW WATER BRIDGE LOCATED ON THE SOUTH FORK OF THE NEW RIVER, APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES FROM THE TOWN OF BOONE. THIS LOW WATER BRIDGE, SITUATED IN WATAUGA COUNTY, WAS BUILT IN 1968 AND HAS DEFINITELY SEEN BETTER DAYS AFTER BEING DAMAGED DURING HALLOWEEN. JUST SIX MONTHS AGO. IT DOES HAVE MORE OF A SAG NOW BECAUSE ONE OF THE PYLONS IS KICKED OUT ON THE RIGHT AND THAT ONE SLOWLY SLIPPING TO THE TO THE LEFT. SIMON GREAVES, WHO LIVED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER, SAYS THE BRIDGE CONNECTS EIGHT PROPERTIES TO RIVER ROAD, AND THE RIVER ITSLF IS REGULARLY USED BY TUBING COMPANIES. IT’S WHY HE’S HOPING GOVERNOR JOSH STEINES BRIDGE REPAIR PROGRAM WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THIS BRIDGE, AND OTHERS LIKE IT. EVEN ON THIS STRETCH, THAT’S ONLY TWO 2.5FT DEEP. FOR THE MOST PART IT IS. YOU KNOW, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD OR WILL BE A SAFETY HAZARD AT SOME POINT FOR THESE POOR PEOPLE. GOVERNOR STEIN WANTS THE PROGRAM TO FOCUS ON THE OVER 8000 PRIVATE ROADS AND BRIDGES DAMAGED IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH HE SAYS OFTEN SERVE AS THE ONLY ACCESS ROUTE FOR MANY AMBULANCES, FIRE TRUCKS, SCHOOL BUSSES AND MORE. QUOTE. IF LEFT UNREPAIRED, THESE CRITICAL PRIVATE ROADS AND BRIDGES POSE A SUBSTANTIAL RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY, INCLUDING PREVENTING REPAIRS TO PEOPLE’S HOMES, AND, QUOTE CHRIS SIGMON, THE COUNTY PLANNER FOR YANCEY COUNTY, SAYS THIS PROGRAM IS SORELY NEEDED. YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO THIS, WE WERE GOING THE FEMA ROUTE TRYING TO GET FEMA TO FUND PRIVATE ROADS AND BRIDGES THROUGH EITHER INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE AS THE PEOPLE APPLIED OR THROUGH PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. THAT’S WHERE WE PLAY AT THE COUNTY LEVEL FOR TEMPORARY EMERGENCY ACCESS RESTORATION, ESPECIALLY FOR PROPERTY OWNERS WHO AREN’T PERMANENT RESIDENTS. OUR ONLY FUNDING MECHANISM HAS BEEN FOR THOSE PERMANENT RESIDENTS. SO I’VE ONLY FOCUSED ON THOSE ROADS AND BRIDGES. BUT THAT STORY NEEDS TO BE TOLD BECAUSE THOSE 6000 OUT OF COUNTY LAND AND PROPERTY OWNERS MEAN A LOT TO OUR ECONOMY, HE SAYS. THE LACK OF ACCESS TO DESTROYED OR DAMAGED BRIDGES HAS LEFT MANY OF HIS NEIGHBORS TO HAVE TO GET CREATIVE. A GENTLEMAN JUST LEFT MY OFFICE THAT TWO DAYS AGO WAS ABLE TO GET TWO 60 FOOT BEAMS LAID ACROSS THE RIVER WHERE THEY COULD WALK TO THEIR HOUSE, AND THAT’S THE FIRST TIME THEY’VE BEEN ABLE TO WALK TO THEIR HOUSE SINCE SELENE HIT. AND ANY RESOURCE THAT CAN BE USED TO HELP PEOPLE IS WELCOME. WE’RE VERY BUSY. WE ALL WEAR MANY HATS AND AND FRANKLY, WE JUST WANT TO HELP PEOPLE. WE WANT TO HELP OUR CITIZENS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. I’M JOSHUA DAVIS FOR WXII 12 NEWS. JOSHUA, THANK YOU, GOVERNOR STEIN IS ASKING NORTH CAROLINA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WITH COORDINATING STATE ASSISTANCE FOR THIS PROGRAM. WHILE STATE OFFICILS CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM OR ARE LOOKING FOR RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE WITH RECOVERY, WE HAVE A LINK T

12 Investigates: Gov. Stein establishes program to repair bridges in Western NC

The governor's office said 8,000 private roads and bridges still need to be repaired in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene hit six months ago.

The governor's office announced that 8,000 private roads and bridges are still in need of repairs in western North Carolina, six months after Hurricane Helene hit.That includes a low-water bridge in Watauga County. Built in 1968, the bridge is located on the south fork of the New River, approximately 15 minutes from Boone. "It does have a more of a sag now because one of the pylons is kicked out on the right, and that one's slowly slipping to the to the left," said Simon Greaves. Check it out: How do bridges deteriorate? 3D models show parts that are the first to go, hereGreaves said the bridge connects eight properties to River Road and is regularly used by tubing companies. He hopes that Gov. Josh Stein's bridge repair program will make a difference for this bridge and others like it."Even on this stretch that's only two, two and a half feet deep for the most part, it is, you know, it is a safety hazard or will be a safety hazard at some point," said Greaves.Gov. Stein wants the program to focus on over 8,000 private roads and bridges damaged in the storm. He said they often serve as the only access route for many ambulances, fire trucks, school buses, and more.Check it out: Which states lead in the highest share of bridges in poor conditions? Find out here. In a statement, Gov. Stein wrote that "if left unrepaired, these critical private roads and bridges pose a substantial risk to public safety, including preventing repairs to people's homes."Chris Sigmon, the county planner for Yancey County, said the program is sorely needed. "Prior to this, we were going the FEMA route, trying to get FEMA to fund private roads and bridges through either individual assistance as the people applied or through public assistance," said Sigmon. "That's where we play at the county level for temporary emergency access restoration."Sigmon said that's especially true for property owners who are not permanent residents. He said the lack of access due to destroyed or damaged infrastructure has forced his neighbors to turn to creative solutions.Check it out: These are the 10 busiest bridges in poor condition nationwide "A gentleman just left my office that two days ago, was able to get 260-foot beams laid across the river where they could walk to their house," said Sigmon. He added that it was also the first time his neighbor was able to walk to their house since Helene hit. Sigmon said any resource that can be used to help people is welcome."We all wear many hats and and frankly, we just want to help people," he said. "We want to help our citizens."Gov. Stein is tasking North Carolina Emergency Management with coordinating state assistance for this program while officials continue to advocate for additional funding.To learn more about North Carolina's private road & bridge program, click here. NAVIGATE: WORST BRIDGES IN U.S. | COST OF NEGLECT | HOW BRIDGES DETERIORATE | VESSEL BRIDGE CONCERNS | AGING INFRASTRUCTURE DEMANDS

The governor's office announced that 8,000 private roads and bridges are still in need of repairs in western North Carolina, six months after Hurricane Helene hit.

That includes a low-water bridge in Watauga County. Built in 1968, the bridge is located on the south fork of the New River, approximately 15 minutes from Boone.

"It does have a more of a sag now because one of the pylons is kicked out on the right, and that one's slowly slipping to the to the left," said Simon Greaves.

Check it out: How do bridges deteriorate? 3D models show parts that are the first to go, here

Greaves said the bridge connects eight properties to River Road and is regularly used by tubing companies. He hopes that Gov. Josh Stein's bridge repair program will make a difference for this bridge and others like it.

"Even on this stretch that's only two, two and a half feet deep for the most part, it is, you know, it is a safety hazard or will be a safety hazard at some point," said Greaves.

Gov. Stein wants the program to focus on over 8,000 private roads and bridges damaged in the storm. He said they often serve as the only access route for many ambulances, fire trucks, school buses, and more.

Check it out: Which states lead in the highest share of bridges in poor conditions? Find out here.

In a statement, Gov. Stein wrote that "if left unrepaired, these critical private roads and bridges pose a substantial risk to public safety, including preventing repairs to people's homes."

Chris Sigmon, the county planner for Yancey County, said the program is sorely needed.

"Prior to this, we were going the FEMA route, trying to get FEMA to fund private roads and bridges through either individual assistance as the people applied or through public assistance," said Sigmon. "That's where we play at the county level for temporary emergency access restoration."

Sigmon said that's especially true for property owners who are not permanent residents. He said the lack of access due to destroyed or damaged infrastructure has forced his neighbors to turn to creative solutions.

Check it out: These are the 10 busiest bridges in poor condition nationwide

"A gentleman just left my office that two days ago, was able to get 260-foot beams laid across the river where they could walk to their house," said Sigmon. He added that it was also the first time his neighbor was able to walk to their house since Helene hit.

Sigmon said any resource that can be used to help people is welcome.

"We all wear many hats and and frankly, we just want to help people," he said. "We want to help our citizens."

Gov. Stein is tasking North Carolina Emergency Management with coordinating state assistance for this program while officials continue to advocate for additional funding.

To learn more about North Carolina's private road & bridge program, click here.

NAVIGATE: WORST BRIDGES IN U.S. | COST OF NEGLECT | HOW BRIDGES DETERIORATE | VESSEL BRIDGE CONCERNS | AGING INFRASTRUCTURE DEMANDS

12 Investigates: Gov. Stein establishes program to repair bridges in Western NC

The governor's office said 8,000 private roads and bridges still need to be repaired in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene hit six months ago.

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