RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina's Transportation Department said it'll lay off hundreds of workers to help cover the ballooning cost of storm damage repairs and legal expenses.
Layoffs will include contractual and temporary laborers such as those who patch potholes, inspect construction sites and review highway plans.
[READ MORE: NCDOT responds to safety concerns in I-77 toll lane construction areas]
Chief Operating Officer Bobby Lewis said the NCDOT is reviewing more than 1,000 positions, although he said the exact number of layoffs or how much will be saved from them isn't clear.
Lewis said the NCDOT considers the move temporary with hopes to rehire some workers next year.
The cost-saving measure comes as two massive expenses weigh on the department's budget -- about $300 million in weather-related costs and what's projected to be $1 billion in legal fees for settling lawsuits.
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Associated Press