The reconstruction of the section of Newfound Gap Road (US 441) that was damaged in January’s massive landslide, is set to begin as early as this Friday, February 22.

The first phase of the project was recently completed when a contracting firm removed debris, stabilized the area and built an access road to the site.

Contractor Phillips & Jordan, Inc. of Robbinsville, NC submitted the winning bid of $3,989,890 and will take on phase two of the project.

The repair is scheduled to be complete by May 15 but for every day under the deadline they fall they could be paid $18,000. The incentive was recently put on the table by the National Park Service and the Eastern Band of  the Cherokee Indian.

The slide area will be filled with crushed stone and then reconstructed and repaved. A new road design is also supposed to allow for better water drainage.