The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is using findings from a North Carolina State University (NC State) study to help build transportation infrastructure that is more resilient to future weather conditions.
Launched in 2021, the study — “How Will Precipitation Characteristics Associated with Tropical Cyclones in Diverse Synoptic Environments in the Southeast United States Respond to Climate Change” — forecasts increased rainfall as temperatures continue to rise.
Researchers found that transportation infrastructure must be designed to withstand both high-intensity rainfall bursts, which can trigger flash flooding, and broader, longer-lasting rainfall events that can lead to prolonged saturation cauising roadway subgrade failures and bridge scour.
The study also found that future storms are likely to produce larger flood footprints, increasing the potential for regionwide transportation disruptions, including widespread road closures and failures along multiple transportation corridors.
In response, NCDOT is incorporating resilience measures into major projects. One example is a new Interstate 95 bridge in Lumberton that will be built 12.5 feet higher than the existing structure, according to Spectrum News 1. The design decision follows the flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, which inundated parts of the community.
The agency also developed a resilience policy following Hurricanes Florence and Matthew that calls for expanded risk assessments and infrastructure designs better suited to withstand heavy rainfall events.
"We're seeing bigger storms and we know we need to prepare for that," Andrew Barksdale, a public information officer with NCDOT, told Spectrum News 1. "We know the public wants a more resilient infrastructure."
The need for resilient infrastructure was further underscored by Hurricane Helene in 2024, which destroyed 150 bridges and damaged another 850 across North Carolina. The storm also caused significant damage to major transportation corridors, including Interstate 40, U.S. Highway 19, U.S. Highway 64 and U.S. Highway 74.
Helene also forced the indefinite closure of portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The study’s key takeaway is that future storms will not simply bring more rain — they will deliver rainfall differently. Transportation agencies will need to prepare for both more intense downpours and broader, longer-lasting flooding events that place greater strains on roads and bridges.
Sources: Spectrum News 1, NC State Study
