ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Drivers looking for the latest updates on Asheville’s long-awaited Interstate 26 Connector project now have a new place to track construction progress and traffic impacts.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has launched a Facebook page dedicated to the I-26 Connector project, where officials say they will share construction updates, traffic changes, project milestones and behind-the-scenes information as work moves forward.
The new page comes as construction activity tied to the massive highway project is becoming more visible across Asheville. The left-turn lane coming off Bowen Bridge near Sam’s Club has been blocked, along with the Riverside Drive entrance ramp to I-240/I-26 and the Hill Street off-ramp. Barriers for shifting lanes are also in place along parts of the I-26/I-240 corridor in West Asheville.
The I-26 Connector reached a major milestone last month when NCDOT held a groundbreaking ceremony for the project, which has been decades in the making. Transportation officials say the connector is designed to improve safety, reduce congestion and strengthen regional connectivity across Western North Carolina.
Once complete, the project will connect Interstate 26 south of Asheville with U.S. 19/23/70 north of the city, creating a continuous interstate route linking the mountains with the Port of Charleston, South Carolina.