The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is advancing the Interstate 26 widening project in Western North Carolina, focusing on constructing a new Blue Ridge Parkway Bridge over the interstate.
Scheduled for completion by this summer, the bridge is a pivotal component of the $531 million initiative aimed at alleviating congestion between Hendersonville and Asheville.
The new 606-foot bridge will feature two 10-foot lanes, 3-foot shoulders, and a 5-foot sidewalk to accommodate the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Its design addresses the limitations of the existing overpass, which cannot support the expanded four-lane configuration on each side of I-26.
Upon completion, the old bridge will be demolished, allowing for the finalization of the westbound lanes.
"The goal is to finish the parkway bridge so that we can finish the westbound lanes," said Jody Lawrence, assistant division construction engineer for NCDOT, in a statement.
Recent developments include the opening of new lanes in Buncombe County, enhancing traffic flow from Long Shoals Road to Glenn Bridge Road. The project, which began in 2019, is expected to be completed by late 2026.
For ongoing updates, motorists can visit DriveNC.gov.
Source: WLOS News, Newschannel9.com
