Asheville – Work has commenced on I-40 between Hendersonville Road (Exit 50) and the I-26 interchange (Exits 46A and 46B). The NCDOT has entered into a $27.9 million contract with APAC-Atlantic, Inc., doing business as Harrison Construction Company, for road resurfacing and structural refurbishments under the bridges, where concrete has been spalling. This stretch includes two bridges over the French Broad River and four over Hominy Creek.
Traffic engineers have developed a plan to minimize disruptions to daily traffic flow. They determined that regular daytime closures would extend the project timeframe. Therefore, work will proceed in phases, with nighttime lane closures while asphalt is laid and striped with high-visibility markings, guardrails are replaced, and drainage features, including ditches, gutters, and curbs, are installed. Select lanes will be closed on several weekends for bridgework that would be unsafe to perform at night.
Where the interstate crosses the French Broad River Greenway, measures will be implemented to protect pedestrians and cyclists from falling debris during the project. Work over the bridges is not expected to impact river activities, but temporary warning signs will be posted at launch sites.
While construction is underway, on-ramps from Hendersonville Road and Brevard Road will be closed, and lighted signage will direct motorists onto I-240. The work is expected to be completed by the spring of 2026.
None of this has been a hot topic in watercooler conversations. One is more likely to hear complaints about being late again due to traffic tie-ups. Visitors are often astounded to witness the daily exit-to-exit backups or to experience for the first time the rumble of traffic on either side of the current project.
These issues will be addressed in a second major project, explained NCDOT’s Western Communications Manager, David Uchiyama. The NCDOT has awarded a contract for $105 million to a joint venture of Archer Western and Wright Brothers Construction to make improvements on I-40 between Smokey Park Highway (Exit 44) and the I-26 interchange. This is known as the Southern Section of the I-26 Connector. Archer-Wright also submitted the winning bid for the Northern Section in May.
Once completed, drivers will find it easier to navigate during their commutes, as the exit-to-exit gridlock should be eliminated. This will be achieved by dividing Exit 44 into 44A, veering east onto Patton Avenue, and 44B, veering west onto Smokey Park Highway. The rumbly pavement will also be redone. No further details were provided on how traffic jams will be alleviated when turning south onto I-26, except that “there will be widening and upgrades.”
Construction could begin anytime now and last until the fall of 2028. According to a NCDOT press release, “Once crews are ready to begin, motorists will quickly begin seeing lane reductions and traffic shifts in that area.” Major closures will be announced in advance.
Another Asheville interstate novelty has been traveling westbound on Amboy Road to points north. It’s much easier to play pilot car than to give directions. Currently, upon leaving the on-ramp, drivers have only a matter of seconds to cross two lanes of sometimes heavy I-240 traffic and catch the off-ramp for Brevard Road.
This issue should be addressed with a third contract for what is known as the Western Section. It aims to improve the interstate between I-26 and Haywood Road and also make enhancements to Amboy and Brevard roads. The contract for this will not be bid until next year.
All of the above construction is part of Section C of the I-26 connector project. Sections D and B are still in the design phase. The former will include improvements to a stretch of road between Hillcrest, which is now properly accessible only via a bridge, and Broadway. Section B involves building a new stretch of interstate from the Haywood Road interchange to US 19/23/70 north of Broadway. This will eliminate more quirky interstate features that keep Asheville unique.
For example, I-26 currently doglegs into a major commercial corridor for a while. Another novelty is that the best way to travel westbound on Smokey Park Highway when coming up from Hendersonville on I-26 is to drive through the Westgate Shopping Center parking lot. Additionally, driving northward on I-240/26 to reach Haywood Road requires taking the rickety Exit 2 and navigating a narrow, otherwise quiet residential road until arriving behind B&B Pharmacy.
Meanwhile, work continues on widening a 16.9-mile stretch of I-26 between Asheville and Hendersonville. Construction began in 2019 and is expected to continue past the estimated summer 2024 completion date. This project was contracted for $531 million.