Hurricane Helene destroyed parts of Interstate 40 at the Tennessee/North Carolina line. A special use permit may change the work.

During a Feb. 10 visit to Western North Carolina, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a plan that he said would expedite repairs to Interstate 40.

Sean Duffy, a former U.S. Representative from Wisconsin, was sworn in as the 20th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. In his new role, Duffy will oversee a $110 billion budget and more than 55,