Landslide Recovery Projects
Landslide Recovery Projects
Landslides occur when heavy rainfall saturates hillside soil, adding weight and reducing stability until gravity pulls the material down the slope—sometimes taking portions of the roadway infrastructure with it. The size and severity of a landslide depend on rainfall volume, soil conditions, and slope steepness. Three projects across 89 sites invest more than $9.5 million in engineering and design work to recover from landslides caused by Tropical Storm Helene, positioning the City to repair critical public infrastructure using federal and state disaster recovery funding. Recovering from Tropical Storm Helene means not only repairing the damage we can see today, but also providing for a more resilient future.
Happening Now
These projects are in the design phase, preparing for construction in 2027.
Background:
On June 23, 2026, City Council adopted resolutions authorizing the City Manager to enter into three contracts for design and engineering for Helene Recovery Projects for landslides across the City:
- Project A – A contract with ECS Southeast, LLC for $337,235 for four sites at two locations
- Project B – A contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for $3,878,572 for 19 sites at 16 locations
- Project C – A contract with Catawba Valley Engineering and Testing, PC for $5,333,700 for 66 locations
Projects are expected to be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency - Public Assistance (FEMA-PA) program and by Federal Emergency Management Agency - Hazard Mitigation Assistance (FEMA-HMA). Any expenses not eligible under the Federal reimbursement program will be covered by the existing Streets budget in the General Capital Projects Fund.
Design and engineering services include:
- Permanent restoration design services of the landslide areas and the damaged infrastructure including FEMA PA restoration and cost-effective hazard mitigation projects to protect the infrastructure from future damage.
- Geotechnical borings, investigations, and slope stability analysis with formal inspection and stability reports.
- Structural and geotechnical design needed for preparation of construction drawings and specifications, cost estimates, and bid documents.
- Stormwater designs and calculations to provide adequate drainage as needed for additional stability of the site.
- Applications for any necessary Federal, State, or Local permits.
- Preparation of Beneficial cost analysis and FEMA cost reasonableness for all designs to ensure the more cost-effective option.
- Costs tracking associated with the multiple Federal and State programs for reimbursement and/or funding.
- Construction administration during construction of repairs.
Approximate Site Locations
Project A – Two locations
Horizon Hill Road
Horizon Hill Road
Project B – 16 locations
Cherokee Road
Cherokee Road
Cherokee Road
Cherokee Road
Cherokee Road
Blue Briar Road
Blue Briar Road
Blue Briar Road
McCauley Drive
McCauley Drive
McCauley Drive
Vance Gap Road
Vance Gap Road
Forest Hill Road
Old Chunns Cove Road
Old Chunns Cove Road
Project C – 66 locations
Selwyn Place
Woodland Drive
Wellington Street
Britt Drive
Caledonia Road
Simpson Street
Mulvaney Street
Huntington Street
Huntington Street
Mountainbrook Road
Old Haw Creek Road
Upper Sondley Road
Fairstock Road
River Hills Road
Campground Road
Yorkshire Street
Beaucatcher Road
Market Street Extension
Beaucatcher Road
Curve Street
Round Top Road
Brookwood Road
Irving Street
Tunnel Road
S. Beaumont Street
Inglewood Road
Macon Avenue
Edgewood Road
Wolfe Cove Road
Senator Reynolds Road
Senator Reynolds Road
Grovepoint Way
Grovepoint Way
Bassett Road
Kenilworth Road
W. Euclid Parkway
Bassett Road
Robinhood Road
Woodland Alley
Desota Road
Sunset Trail
Sunset Trail
Sunset Drive
Sunset Drive
Sunset Drive
Sunset Drive
Sunset Drive
Sunset Drive
Sunset Drive
Crestwood Lane
Crestwood Lane
Crestwood Lane
Crowningway Drive
Westhaven Drive
Skyview Place
Spooks Branch Road
Spooks Branch Road
Spooks Branch Road
Spooks Branch Road
Spooks Branch Road
Spooks Branch Road
Spooks Branch Road
Cogswood Road
E. Hillcrest Road
E. Hillcrest Road
Kimberly Road