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Welcome to our dedicated page on the progress of CSX's recovery efforts in the Blue Ridge Subdivision following Hurricane Helene. We are proud to share the significant strides we’ve made in rebuilding and restoring this vital area. The CSX team, in close collaboration with state and federal agencies, is committed to ensuring the Blue Ridge Subdivision returns to full operational capacity. Below, you’ll find valuable information and updates on the progress of our recovery efforts, reflecting our unwavering dedication to both safety and community resilience.
Before:
Previous CSX railroad approaching the TN/NC State Line Bridge
After:
Damage to CSX railroad between Chestoa Recreation Area and the TN/NC State Line
Damage of CSX rail and bridge at Poplar Boat Ramp
Project Overview
As a result of Hurricane Helene, approximately 60 miles of CSX railroad in Tennessee and North Carolina was severely affected by flooding and suffered extensive damage. This line handles approximately 14 million gross tons of freight annually and is critical to supporting families and serving businesses throughout the southeast region of the United States.
CSX fully recognizes the importance of the Nolichucky River and is continuing its collaboration with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, other state and federal agencies, as well as the community to ensure the rail infrastructure is recovered and restored in the safest and most environmentally responsible way.
CSX has been working closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Nashville and Wilmington districts), the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and the North Carolina Division of Water Resources (NC DWR). Permits have been issued for activities in North Carolina and Tennessee.
As the recovery and reconstruction continues, it is unsafe to traverse the Nolichucky River.
A highly skilled team of engineers and environmental specialists are deployed to support recovery and restoration efforts.
To continue serving our customers during reconstruction, train traffic is being rerouted around the out of service track. We remain committed to keeping the community informed with timely updates and to fully restoring service on the Blue Ridge subdivision as quickly and safely as possible.
Project Map
The project involves safely retrieving track material from the Nolichucky River and responsibly rebuilding rail beds, bridges, and culverts. A map of the impacted area is below.
Note: Location is marked along the track as a milepost, which is used during railroad operations to document distance and critical markers. For this recovery project, the mileposts are used to designate work boundaries.
Recovery and Reconstruction Process
The process of railroad recovery and construction is complex and heavily influenced by terrain and environmental conditions. The damage caused by Hurricane Helene included large sections of railbed and track structures that were washed out or destroyed. Initial damage assessments indicate that some areas will require complete reconstruction in a mountainous environment.
Recovery and reconstruction projects are generally conducted in multiple phases: damage assessment, recovery of track materials, site access, railbed reconstruction, track reconstruction, track repairs, and final inspections, which all supports the return of freight rail service to this corridor.
Recovery of Track Materials
The safe removal of track materials includes rail, crossties, bridge spans, roadbed fill material, and other equipment from the Nolichucky and North Toe rivers. Some of the salvaged material is being recycled for use in the reconstruction.
Gaining Site Access
Many sections of railbed throughout the project area were completely washed away in the storm, leaving crews without access to vast areas of the Nolichucky gorge.
To achieve complete access to all areas as fast as possible, crews on opposite ends of the gorge’s eight-mile area have been reconstructing the railbed mile by mile – working to close the gap between the two sides of the project.
Railbed Reconstruction
Bridges Impacted
Three bridges were impacted in the Nolichucky gorge area, with two requiring major reconstruction. The first bridge is south of Chestoa and sustained damage to the embankment, but the bridge itself was not significantly damaged. The second bridge is a 60-foot span at the Tennessee and North Carolina state line. It has been important to reconstruct quickly to provide equipment access to areas south. This bridge was refabricated by CSX Bridge Shop in Barboursville, West Virginia; reconstructed; placed onsite; and is currently functional for recovery operations – all in less than two months.
The third bridge in Poplar was a 520-foot railroad bridge and was almost completely washed out during the flood. This bridge was originally constructed with six bridge spans and CSX has been able to recover all spans and reuse four of the original six spans. Total reconstruction will include seven spans, CSX is adding a new bridge pier to accommodate an additional span.
Project Timeline
Note: The timeline references the phases of reconstruction and the estimated dates. For a more detailed look into the specific sections and their current progress, please reference the Reconstruction Sections and Timeline chart below.
Reconstruction Sections and Timeline
The project is divided into sections based on the type of work. Details about the section of track under reconstruction, the damage and recovery status, a description of the work in progress, and the next steps are provided in the table below.
Section of Track As of 03/20/25
Damage & Recovery Status
On-going Work
Next Steps
Section 1 –
Erwin, TN (milepost Z 140) to the State Line Bridge (milepost Z 142.5)
Track railbed completely washed away in some areas.
Status: On-going
Access to CSX right-of-way has been constructed.
Raising the railbed embankment back to the required track elevation.
Short term: Continue to use as access to corridor.
Rebuilding track railbed.
Future: Hardening the embankment for resilience, adding drainage, ditches, rebuilding track section.
Section 2 –
State Line Bridge (milepost Z 142.5) east and south to Poplar Bridge (milepost Z 147.9)
Two bridges washed away: State Line Bridge & Poplar Bridge.
Heavy damage to track and railbed between bridges.
Status: On-going
Poplar Bridge span repairs.
Concrete work for existing Poplar Bridge piers.
Recovery of track material underway in North Carolina.
Short term: Recovery of track materials.
Gaining access to the Poplar end of the corridor.
Long term: Rebuilding track railbed.
Preparation for Poplar Bridge reconstruction.
Section 3 –
Poplar Bridge (milepost Z
147.9 south to milepost Z 165)
Heavy railbed and track damage.
Status: On-going
Track & railbed reconstruction.
Recovery of track material from the river.
Railbed reconstruction and track repairs.
Section 4 –
Milepost Z165 to Spruce Pine, NC (milepost Z 183)
Railbed & track damage.
Status: On-going
Railbed reconstruction south of milepost Z175 is complete.
Railbed & track reconstruction.
Recovery of track material for remainder underway.
Railbed reconstruction and track repairs.
Section 5 –
Spruce Pine, NC (milepost Z 183) running south
Status: Substantially complete.
Crews are performing final inspections as railroad service is being safely restored south of Spruce Pine Yard at milepost Z 183.
Return to service pending final inspections.
River Safety Information
As the recovery and reconstruction of the Blue Ridge Subdivision continues, areas surrounding the Nolichucky Gorge, including near the Chestoa Recreation Area and Poplar Boat Ramp, are active construction sites.
CSX workers and heavy equipment have begun work on the Nolichucky River in North Carolina to recover railroad track and ties. These materials are underwater and may be under pressure, which could create hazardous conditions for those in the area.
This means those areas are unsafe to visit and the Nolichucky River is unsafe to traverse.
CSX is committed to environmental compliance and strives to protect the environment and the safety and health of the public, customers, and employees in all aspects of the company’s operations. All reconstruction activities are being conducted under the oversight of federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Permit documentation can be found in the Additional Resources and Permits section of this page.
