HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The final overnight closures for the Interstate 26 widening project in Henderson County are scheduled for this week, signaling the near completion of work in that section, state officials said.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation said Tuesday it will resume maintenance responsibilities for the stretch between U.S. 64 (Exit 49) and Airport Road (Exit 40) beginning this weekend. That responsibility had been held by contractors during the construction phase.
“There will be no more full closures in Henderson County,” resident engineer Mike Patton said in a statement. “As far as what the traveling public will notice, our project in Henderson County is complete.”
Crews will use the final closures to install snow-plowable pavement markers, remove debris and complete other finishing tasks.
The dates of the final closures have not been announced.
Although the functional portion of the project in Henderson County is wrapping up, contractors will continue work on a weigh-in-motion system for eastbound truck traffic. The high-tech sensors, which allow trucks to be weighed without stopping, will eventually replace the existing weigh station.
Work will also continue in Buncombe County, where the I-26 widening includes a newly added interchange.
The contract completion date for the full project remains Jan. 1, officials said.