The extreme nature of Hurricane Helene's impacts on western NC, specifically portions of I-40 near the border of TN in the Pigeon River Gorge was unprecedented which resulted in I-40 being impassable and caused major disruption to this vital area of the State and entire region.  RK&K was chosen by NCDOT to design a resilient repair for the interstate, produce compliant environmental documents, and develop constructible plans for I-40. This project is being accomplished through a CMGC approach assuring monetary and schedule value are incorporated into the discussions from the earliest stages as well as intricate design processes being vetted for constructability.

This presentation will present the scope and scale of the damage and enormous repair efforts left in its aftermath.  Specifically, discussion will include how repairs of the interstate incorporated the size and scope of the storm, 2D hydraulic modeling to design the wall, storage of hydraulic information using ArcGIS Online (AGOL) mapping tools, and designer / contractor / owner coordination throughout the entire process.

About Matthew Cook

Matthew Cook, PE is the Director of Water Resources in the Raleigh RK&K office and heads the hydraulic design efforts for the I-40 Pigeon River reconstruction project. With 28 years of experience and in addition to leading a water resources team of approximately 20 people, he has experience in leading large scale NCDOT, SCDOT, and TDOT transportation projects including interstate widening and new location work, layout and modeling for major hydraulic conveyances, linear drainage, erosion prevention and control, environmental compliance and permitting, and scheduling. He has modeled dozens of bridges and culverts across NC while coordinating with all environmental agencies and stakeholders. He has worked on multiple design delivery methods including P3, CMGC, design-bid-build, and over 50 design-build projects.

About Greg Goins
Greg Goins, PE is the Director for RK&K’s Southeast Geotechnical Group and is the contract manager for the design of the I-40 Pigeon River reconstruction project. With 26 years of experience, he leads a team of over 20 geologists and engineers in a variety of small- and large-scale bid-build and design-build transportation projects in NC, TN, SC, and FL. His career has included management, subsurface exploration, and engineering design for projects that characterize subsurface conditions and provide geotechnical engineering recommendations for roadways, retaining walls, buildings, bridges, railways, pavement, and stormwater management facilities

About Mimi Sweitzer
Mimi Sweitzer, PE, is a Project Delivery Leader in RK&K's Raleigh, NC office and has 15 years of experience as a geotechnical engineer. As the geotechnical project manager for the I-40 Pigeon River reconstruction project, she has directed the subsurface explorations and is coordinating the geotechnical design efforts. Her project experience includes Triangle Expressway (NC 540) Southeast Extension, I-40 Widening in Raleigh, US 321 Widening in Hickory, and various roadway, bridge, and retaining wall projects throughout NC, SC, and TN

This program is worth 1 PDH credit.