I would like to think you and your inspection team for all the help provided during our recent snow and ice event. During the storm I was utilizing several contractors to remove the snow/ice and Summit provided competent personnel eager to inspect and follow the contractors to keep up with their time and make sure they were doing what was needed of them. The help you and your inspection team provided was extremely helpful and made my life easier during this event. I look forward in working with Summit and your team in the near future and again thanks for the help. Please let everyone that was involved know of our appreciation.
Designed for resilience. Built for community.
Summit Design and Engineering Services, Inc. understands that Buncombe County is in the process of rebuilding following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. From our Asheville office, we witnessed these impacts firsthand. In the immediate aftermath, our teams were on the ground throughout Western North Carolina, supporting relief efforts and assisting our friends and neighbors. Now, as the city continues to shift it’s focus to future recovery and resilience, Summit will be there to lend a hand.
Our team brings extensive experience working with municipalities on infrastructure projects that prioritize resilience, safety, and long-term performance. We partner with local governments across North Carolina to deliver practical engineering solutions that respond to real conditions, whether improving stormwater systems, restoring transportation networks, or supporting the assessment and rehabilitation of public assets. Our approach is grounded in responsiveness, clarity, and an understanding of the environmental and regulatory context unique to this region.
At Summit, supporting our communities through high-quality infrastructure is central to our mission. With a long-standing presence in Asheville and an established understanding of local processes, we are well positioned to support ongoing recovery efforts and the infrastructure investments that will shape the region for years to come.
We Hit The Ground Running.
In the aftermath of Helene, Summit had employees in the field, doing work alongside first responders within the immediate aftermath of Helene. Now, over a year out, we have been contributing to the recovery effort in numerous ways, from watershed studies to Emergency Express Design-Builds. Check out some of the good work we’ve already done throughout Buncombe County.
Contract Management
As part of our work with NCDOT, Summit’s maintenance management division is responsible for the maintenance and monitoring of over 2,100 structures between Groups 3, 13, 16, and 20, with damage assessment being a large part of the work performed. After the events of Hurricane Helene, Summit performed scoping and contract development for 62 structures; of those 62, Summit is personally overseeing the construction work being performed on 37 structures between 22 contracts.
FEMA Compliance Monitoring and Auditing Component
Summit personnel are assisting State Maintenance Operations in auditing the design-build, and site-specific contracts let for bridge and roadway repairs. Our team has assisted in developing the bridge repair priority list and associated contracts in addition to providing contract oversight ensuring that contracts comply with FEMA and FHWA regulations.
NCDOT Division 13 Group 3 Hurricane Helene EEDB Package Bridge Replacements
Summit is currently responsible for five structures between three contracts in response to damages incurred by Hurricane Helene. This work includes the recently-awarded NCDOT Division 13 Group 3 Emergency Express Design Build Package, consisting of the bridge replacements for Bridge 580345 in McDowell County and Bridge 100110 in Buncombe County, NC. Summit is the prime engineering consultant to design the permanent bridge replacements for these two locations.
Both bridges were severely damaged from Hurricane Helene with Bridge 580345 being temporarily serviced with an onsite constructed detour bridge and Bridge 110110 is currently being serviced for drivers to use a temporary bridge as the permanent replacement designs will be submitted for approval and constructed. As both bridges concurrently go through design review and approval with the NCDOT, Summit will expedite milestone submittals through for final review and approval through NCDOT and FEMA to the partnered contractor to quickly begin constructing the permanent structures and open to the public as soon as possible.
Summit was awarded Field and Design services to perform for this contract which includes Project Management, Roadway, Drainage, Structure, Maintenance of Traffic, Permitting, Pavement Marking, Erosion and Sedimentation Control, Geotechnical, and Supplemental/Construction Survey.
Contact

Russ Davis, PE
Site Design Manager
828.230.1208 || russ.davis@summitde.com

Chip Vanderzee
Client Services Manager
336.465.3749 || sammy.vanderzee@summitde.com
Throughout our partnership, Summit has provided support, combining their technical expertise with a understanding of our community’s needs. Their approach has assisted in our efforts to secure crucial funding and advance our infrastructure projects. I have found Summit Engineering to be a worthy engineering partner. Their dedication to excellence and proactive approach to problem-solving have made a significant impact on our projects. Emerald Isle would recommend Summit Design and Engineering to other organizations in need of a competent and forward-thinking engineering firm.
It is with much enthusiasm that I am writing to recommend the services of Summit Design and Engineering Services. I have been working with Summit for the past seven years and have always been completely satisfied with their performance. They do an excellent job, are always punctual, and are always very professional. We have hired them to perform professional designs, surveys, construction materials testing, parking lot surveys, structural engineering, and multiple other professional services. They have been very responsive to our requests and needs for each individual project. Their communication and professionalism are outstanding.





