News

NCDOT responding to road washouts, damage in Hickory Nut Gorge

By Lightning Reports, Published: May 26, 2026

Roads were closed and expected to remain impassable after flash flooding caused washouts overnight, fire departments in the Hickory Nut Gorge warned.

"Most of the roads in and around Gerton are damaged," Gerton Fire & Rescue said in a Facebook post. "Many roads may look okay but have nothing under them. Please for your safety stay where you are until we can get assessment done and start emergency repairs."

The N.C. Department of Transportation said in a news release Tuesday morning that crews are on the scene fixing several areas damaged by heavy rains Monday night near the Buncombe/Henderson County line along U.S. 74A. The department has closed U.S. 74A between Sugar Hollow Road and the Buncombe/Henderson County line to replace a 48-inch culvert that collapsed. NCDOT officials anticipate opening the road Tuesday, provided more bad weather does not delay the work. The marked detour directs local U.S. 74A East drivers to Cane Creek Road, U.S. 25 South, Interstate 26 East, U.S. 64 East and up U.S. 74A.

Fairview Fire & Rescue, which shares a border with Gerton, alerted the public that Charlotte Highway near the Henderson County line was completely closed after a road washout there.

"Our crews responded to a tree down in that area. When they were returning they noticed the road was starting to cave away. Upon further inspection there is an approximate 12 ft deep hole washed out underneath Charlotte Highway," Fairview said in a Facebook post. "You cannot travel Charlotte Highway to access the Gerton /Bat Cave areas and you cannot travel from Gerton to Fairview area on Charlotte Highway. ... We have also just been informed by the NCDOT that NC9 coming into Bat Cave is also closed so you cannot use that as an alternate route."

Gerton assisted Edneyville firefighters in the rescue of a family on Bearwallow Mountain Road trapped in their home on by rising floodwaters, WLOS reported.

NCDOT crews are addressing multiple issues on the Henderson County side of U.S. 74A. The storm overwhelmed drainage pipes and swept tree debris onto area roads. Low-volume, secondary roads — including Bearwallow Road, Kelly Hill Road, Konatoga Circle and a gravel section of Middle Fork Road — were closed Tuesday morning due to minor damage.

NCDOT crews will continue working until all repairs are complete. Officials may find additional damage as the day progresses from additional rainfall or changes in other conditions, the news release said.