ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Construction is getting underway on a $4.1 million temporary bridge that will restore a connection lost during Tropical Storm Helene and make it easier for residents and visitors to get around east Asheville.
Crews are beginning work this week on a 300-foot-long steel bridge connecting Azalea Road to Gashes Creek Road near the Western North Carolina Nature Center.
The bridge will give Gashes Creek residents a more direct route into their neighborhood, help ease congestion on Azalea Road and improve access to the Nature Center and nearby John B. Lewis soccer fields, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation.
The original crossing was destroyed by flooding from Helene in September 2024, forcing the city to find another way for residents and visitors to reach the area.
Temporary access was restored in February 2025 with a new road and traffic signal on Azalea Road. The city also restored two-way traffic along part of Azalea Road while officials worked on longer-term plans.
The new bridge will provide another connection while the city works toward a permanent replacement.
NCDOT is overseeing the $4.1 million construction contract with Dane Construction on behalf of the city of Asheville.
The project includes installing the modular steel bridge, stabilizing the riverbank and connecting the structure to existing roads. The work is expected to continue through the winter, with completion planned by summer, according to NCDOT.
Drivers may begin seeing construction activity this week as crews move heavy equipment into the area.
Short-term lane closures are possible on Swannanoa River Road and Azalea Road as equipment is unloaded. More significant closures will be needed at times during the winter.
However, NCDOT says lane closures will not be allowed during weekday morning rush hours from 7 to 8:30 a.m. or afternoon rush hours from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Closures will also be prohibited during holiday weekends, special events and periods of heavy traffic.
The temporary bridge will remain in place while a permanent replacement is built. The city is also evaluating what to do with the remains of the former Gashes Creek dam, which was damaged during Helene.
The bridge is one piece of a much larger effort to rebuild parks and public infrastructure along the Swannanoa River.
The city’s Azalea Parks and Infrastructure Recovery project includes Recreation Park, the Azalea Dog Park, the John B. Lewis soccer complex and other facilities damaged by the storm.
The city has been gathering public input on plans to rebuild those areas, with the broader project’s design phase expected to continue through 2027 and construction anticipated from 2028 through 2031. Some work could begin sooner.
For now, the temporary bridge represents another step toward restoring normal access to a part of Asheville that has been dealing with Helene’s damage for more than two years.
More information about the bridge and the larger recovery effort is available on the city’s Azalea Parks and Infrastructure Recovery website.