ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The North Carolina Department of Transportation reported today that a prominent east Asheville roadway has been restored after it was destroyed by Hurricane Helene.

NCDOT announced in a press release this morning, Wednesday, Jan. 29 that an extensive reconstruction project has been completed on Swannanoa River Road near the Western North Carolina Nature Center. The near-total restoration was finished in under 120 days.

“Crews essentially built a new road,” the press release said.

The segment of the roadway first had to be cleared of fallen trees, broken asphalt, mud buildup and damaged utilities. Then, the roadway was restored with large rock, capped with new asphalt, outfitted with guardrails and pavement markings and installed with new traffic signals.

“After the storm, you could see where a road should be, but wasn’t,” NCDOT Resident Engineer Tom Veazey said in the release. “Now, crews have restored the roadway to previous conditions, making it safe for travel once again.”

Structural recovery is not yet completed in east Asheville. NCDOT cautioned that additional work will continue in the area in the weeks to come, including debris removal and utility restoration. Drivers should expect occasional lane closures as a result.

Meanwhile, sections of Swannanoa River Road west of the restored segment remain under construction.