Chief of staff delivers agency update as board approves project list and discusses western North Carolina recovery
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By Annie Dance | Lake Lure News | Cops & Congress | News & Commentary
RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. — The North Carolina Board of Transportation moved quickly through its June 4 meeting, approving a lengthy statewide project list while receiving updates on Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, DMV staffing, transportation safety initiatives, and significant leadership changes within the Department of Transportation.
Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson was not present for the meeting. According to department officials and the legislative calendar, Johnson was at the Legislative Building participating in the next step of his confirmation process before the General Assembly. He was sworn in back in October 2025, according to the NCDOT.
In his absence, Chief of Staff Mary Cole Pike delivered the department’s report to board members.
Her report focused heavily on the department’s continuing response to Hurricane Helene and the long-term rebuilding effort underway across western North Carolina.
“The Pigeon River Gorge corridor has long connected people and communities across Western North Carolina and into Tennessee,” Pike told board members. “Helene just further revealed just how critical these roads are to our livelihood and the state’s economic vitality.”
The update included a video highlighting ongoing reconstruction work along Interstate 40 in Haywood County, one of the transportation corridors hardest hit by the historic storm.
Pike said the department remains focused not only on rebuilding damaged infrastructure but also on preparing the workforce that will be responsible for maintaining North Carolina’s transportation network in the future.
Among the initiatives highlighted was the recent opening of the Senator Jim Perry Aviation Center of Excellence at the North Carolina Global TransPark in Kinston. The program, developed through a partnership with Lenoir Community College, is designed to train future aviation professionals and includes opportunities for high school students interested in aviation careers.
The department also announced improvements aimed at addressing longstanding customer service concerns at the Division of Motor Vehicles.
According to Pike, 48 new driver license examiners recently graduated and have been assigned across North Carolina. State officials say the additional staffing should help reduce appointment backlogs, shorten wait times and improve service for customers seeking driver’s licenses and identification cards.
NCDOT additionally launched an upgraded version of DriveNC.gov, the state’s online traffic information platform.
The updated system now provides access to more than 1,100 live traffic cameras, customizable route alerts, real-time highway message signs, and a new mobile application. Pike said nearly 1.4 million users accessed DriveNC during the past year.
As summer travel increases, department officials also announced the return of NCDOT’s “100 Days of Summer Safety” campaign. The initiative focuses on reducing traffic fatalities and encouraging drivers to slow down, avoid distractions, wear seat belts and never drive impaired during what transportation officials describe as the most dangerous period of the year for roadway crashes.
Beyond operational updates, Pike outlined several organizational changes implemented by Johnson following the retirement of Peoples.
Under the new structure, Chief Engineer Patrick Norman now reports directly to the secretary. Boyd Tharrington has been promoted to senior deputy chief engineer and will oversee day-to-day highway operations and project delivery efforts. Additional reporting changes affect economic opportunity, compliance, human resources and multimodal transportation divisions.
According to department leadership, the restructuring is intended to improve coordination between divisions and strengthen long-term strategic planning.
While much of the public discussion centered on agency initiatives, one of the meeting’s most consequential actions occurred with little debate.
Board members unanimously approved the monthly transportation project list after only a brief discussion and a voice vote.
The package included highway construction contracts, engineering agreements, funding allocations, transportation improvement projects, and revisions to the State Transportation Improvement Program, commonly known as the STIP.
Among the items approved was a revised timeline for a bridge replacement project in Rutherford County near Lake Lure.
According to project documents, the replacement of Bridge No. 800628 on Bills Creek Road near Lake Lure Dam has been delayed. Right-of-way acquisition was moved from fiscal year 2027 to fiscal year 2029, while construction was pushed from fiscal year 2028 to fiscal year 2030. The project’s estimated cost has increased to approximately $37.4 million, according to the NCDOT project list.
The delay is notable because the area became a focal point during Hurricane Helene when concerns about Lake Lure Dam prompted emergency warnings and evacuations downstream, according to my previous reporting, Rutherford County Emergency Management, and the National Weather Service. It was thought to be in imminent failure due to the volume of water during flooding.
The dam’s flood control gates, the historic tainter gates, had to be opened to 26 feet. Contracted town engineers have since said it’s “stable,” but it remains a high-hazard dam, meaning that failure could destroy homes, properties, and lives downstream along the Broad River watershed.
The bridge project is part of the state’s larger transportation planning process known as the State Transportation Improvement Program. The 10-year plan prioritizes and schedules transportation investments across North Carolina using a formula-based system that considers safety, congestion, economic impact, and local planning priorities.
The meeting also included a notable announcement regarding the future composition of the transportation board itself.
Board member Chuck McGrady announced he will not seek another appointment when his term expires.
McGrady, a former state legislator who has served on the board for six years, cited the demands of travel to Raleigh from Hendersonville and a desire to allow others the opportunity to serve.
Reflecting on Hurricane Helene, McGrady praised the department’s response to the unprecedented disaster.
“Helene, for me, was an eye-opener,” McGrady said. “I never would have thought a jaded former legislator would describe NCDOT as nimble. But they were.”
Board Chairman Anthony Lathrop thanked McGrady for his service and praised his civility, professionalism, and commitment to public service during his tenure.
The board’s next meeting is scheduled for July 8 and will be held virtually.
The meeting and the work session were livestreamed on the NCDOT Vimeo page.
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