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Editor’s note: This news outlet is sharing the full press conference as it happened, without any edits.
CHIMNEY ROCK, N.C. — On Tuesday, I joined a group of reporters for a ride-along with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, where we were given a rare view of the storm-damaged corridor between Chimney Rock Village and Bat Cave. The tour included areas near Buena Vista that most locals have not seen since last year’s devastating floods from Hurricane Helene in late September.
Division 13 construction engineer Nathan Moneyham stood on the old highway alignment, now a staging ground for a $250 million permanent rebuild. At his back stretched a two-lane temporary paved road — a $25 million project completed this spring that reconnected a community cut off by catastrophic damage.
“This temporary road was established a lot faster than anybody expected,” Moneyham said. “It allowed residents to get to the grocery store, doctor appointments, and begin rebuilding their homes.”
The permanent project, scheduled to begin with bridge construction later this fall, will follow much of the former roadway but with straighter curves, reinforced slopes, and stronger foundations designed to withstand future storms. Construction is expected to last into 2027. It is expected to cost $250M.
What “local traffic only” really means
One of the most common questions I hear from readers is whether the public can use the temporary road. The signs say “local traffic only,” which has fueled confusion. When I asked directly, Moneyham explained that access is open for anyone who lives, works, or has legitimate business in the area — including cabin rentals or even visiting a friend for a cookout.
“What we’re asking is that folks have a reason to be here,” he said. “This is still an active construction zone.”
Sheriff’s Office cracks down on violators
Today, Aug. 29, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office issued a sharply worded statement underscoring the rules:
“When we say Chimney Rock roads are STILL closed… guess what? We actually mean it. Shocking, I know. Yet somehow, folks are out here pretending the giant ROAD CLOSED signs are just cute decorations. 🚧”
Chimney Rock is in Rutherford County, not Henderson County. Bat Cave is in Henderson County. Chimney Rock town council approved an ordinance that I’ve previously reported about to allow Henderson County to essentially have jurisdiction in the town, along with Lake Lure police, Chimney Rock State Park rangers, and the FEMA-funded Apex Security contractors, as well as the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. Yes, that means there are not one, not two, not three, but five law enforcement agencies for one town as the town works to rebuild.
HCSO Deputies warned that excuses such as “just following traffic” or “didn’t see the signs” will not work. Violators are being cited and fined, with many redirected straight to court. Only residents, workers, and those with “legitimate business” are allowed through the closure. The Chimney Rock checkpoint was removed months ago, as I previously reported, on the Lake Lure side.
The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office also emphasized that visitors who want to support open businesses should enter through Rutherfordton via U.S. 64/74 or Highway 9 in Mill Spring — and must return the same way. Ignore the signs, they warned, and you may encounter deputies nicknamed “Big Corn,” Vessley, or Danielson — or even Sheriff Lowell Griffin himself. The announcement was also posted in Spanish, even though English has been the official language of NC since 1987.
A full press conference, unfiltered
For the record, the full press conference with NCDOT has been published here for news and archival purposes — a fact that, so far, mainstream media and my other colleagues have not made available to the public. It is essential to preserve these firsthand accounts of government officials explaining what has been done, what remains ahead, and how decisions about access are being made.
Stay with Cops & Congress for continued updates as NCDOT begins the next phase of permanent construction. Look for more reporting in the coming weeks here and on WCABNews.com where I will be sharing additional details on both the infrastructure challenges and the community impacts still unfolding in Chimney Rock.
