CHARLOTTE, NC – STV today announced the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has selected STV as the lead designer and Wright Brothers Construction Company as the prime contractor for the emergency repair of critical infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Helene along US 74A, NC 9 and US 64 in Henderson and Rutherford counties.
This vital recovery project will restore key transportation routes that were devastated by the storm’s heavy rainfall and flooding, which caused severe washouts, debris buildup and bridge destruction, leaving local communities isolated. In a first for NCDOT, the project will use a progressive design-build (PDB) delivery method to expedite repairs and ensure fast, collaborative solutions. Through this model, Wright Brothers and STV will work closely together to allow design and construction activities to proceed simultaneously.
As lead designer, STV will provide roadway and structural design, river hydraulics, maintenance of traffic planning, utility coordination and design as well as surveying services. Approximately three miles of damaged roadway between the villages of Bat Cave and Chimney Rock – including several bridge crossings over the Broad River – will be reconstructed.
“Hurricane Helene’s impact was devastating for North Carolina, with many communities still feeling the effects,” said Tom Harris, PE, PMP, vice president and South/Central region bridge director at STV. “With deep roots in North Carolina, we experienced this destruction firsthand and remain committed to helping our neighbors recover, reconnecting local communities by permanently restoring the US 74A connection between Chimney Rock and Bat Cave.”
STV has been supporting NCDOT’s emergency response since the storm struck in September 2024, contributing to multiple recovery projects across western North Carolina. This includes an express design-build contract in partnership with Smith-Rowe, replacing two bridges in Division 13 and serving as a subconsultant for US 19 W North – NCDOT’s second PDB project. The firm also assisted in NCDOT’s immediate disaster response, with its construction engineering and inspection (CEI) staff conducting damage assessments to evaluate impacts and facilitate recovery in Divisions 11 and 13.
With over 50 years of experience in North Carolina and more than 120 professionals across the state, STV has a long-standing history of providing innovative roadway and bridge designs and delivering design-build projects for NCDOT. The firm has served as the lead designer of some of NCDOT’s largest transportation projects, such as the Neuse River Bridge Replacement, the I-485 Widening between Rea Road and I-77, the I-485/I-85 Turbine Interchange and the I-85 crossing over the Yadkin River.
