North Carolina Emergency Management has announced that residents in Western North Carolina’s Helene disaster-declared counties have until August 31 to submit project interest forms for the Private Road and Bridge (NC-PRB) program. The initiative is designed to help communities restore access following damages from disaster events.
The NC-PRB program will also open a formal application process in early September for newly authorized reimbursements totaling $25 million, covering private road and bridge repairs already completed. Applications for these reimbursements will be accepted through February, with individual claims eligible for up to 50 percent of the total project cost.
“Western North Carolinians rely on private roads and bridges to access their communities and emergency services,” said NC Emergency Management Director Will Ray. “Repairing these roads and bridges is critical for public safety and for the rebuilding efforts in Western North Carolina, and we want to ensure resources are allocated quickly and to the highest-priority sites.”
According to program guidelines, priority will be given to direct repairs or replacements of private roads or bridges that serve as the only access point for emergency services to residential properties occupied by owners for more than six months each year. Projects that provide access to multiple homes, recreational areas, or commercial facilities are also prioritized.
The Private Bridge and Road Program was established earlier this year in response to needs identified after Helene. Since mid-March, over 5,100 interest forms have been submitted, representing nearly 16,000 affected households across impacted counties.
To date, the NC-PRB team has completed more than 4,700 site verifications and initial estimates throughout all Helene-affected counties. Permanent bridge repair work has started in Yancey, McDowell, and Buncombe counties. An additional 128 locations have been marked for initial construction activities while engineering design is underway at another 137 sites. Construction contracts covering remaining affected counties are expected to be advertised and awarded in August; these contracts include work on roads as well as pipe and culvert repairs.
For further details about eligibility or submission procedures related to the Private Road and Bridge Program, residents can visit the official website.
