The City of Asheville proudly celebrates National Public Works Week from May 18-24, 2025, recognizing the extraordinary contributions of public works professionals who keep our community running — especially in the face of challenges like Tropical Storm Helene.
This year’s theme, “People, Purpose, Presence”, is especially fitting as Asheville’s Public Works staff continue to lead critical recovery and restoration efforts after the historic storm.
“Public Works is essential to Asheville’s resilience and quality of life,” said Jade Dundas, Interim Assistant City Manager. “From the early emergency response to the ongoing infrastructure repairs, Public Works staff have gone above and beyond to restore infrastructure and support our community in its time of need.”
Following Tropical Storm Helene, Asheville Public Works crews worked tirelessly — often logging 70+ hour weeks — to restore access, clear hazards, and rebuild damaged infrastructure. Some of their accomplishments include:
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- Clearing over 2,000 trees from City and NCDOT roads to restore emergency access.
- Rebuilding roads and clearing debris to access six radio towers critical for emergency communications and Bee Tree Reservoir, pump stations, and storage tanks.
- Hauling and placing over 21,000 tons of rock to stabilize damaged roadways.
- Successfully reopening key routes like Azalea Road, Thompson Street, and Meadow Road, ensuring safe passage for residents and emergency services.
- Cleaning and restoring functionality to 110 stormwater pipes and leading citywide debris management operations.
- Operated temporary drop-off locations for household trash and resumed service with only one week of missed collections.
- Maintained and coordinated fleet repairs to keep City vehicles/equipment and rental equipment operating throughout the storm response.
- Initiated a debris management process and continue to lead/manage debris management and removal including waterway and private property debris operations for the City.
- Supporting water tanker distribution, manual fuel operations, and structural damage assessments in coordination with other City departments.
“This Public Works Week is also about recognizing the incredible sacrifices made by our staff and their families since Tropical Storm Helene,” said Amy Deyton, Interim Public Works Director. “We not only celebrate the tireless efforts of our crews in building, maintaining, and improving our infrastructure, but also recognize the vital role they play in ensuring the safety, health, and quality of life for every resident. I am immensely proud of their hard work and unwavering dedication.”
Please join us in thanking Asheville’s public works professionals — the people who advance quality of life and help our community recover and grow stronger every day.