ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Several highway projects will make traveling around Western North Carolina a little more difficult this week.
I-40 bridge rehabilitation in Asheville rescheduled
Plans to close a stretch of I-40 to perform rehabilitation operations on a bridge between I-26 and Hendersonville Road have been postponed until Aug. 2-4.
Like the previous weekends, crews from DBA Harrison Construction Co. of Asheville plan to close I-40 East from the I-240 East/I-26 West interchange (Exit 46B) to Hendersonville Road (Exit 50) from 8 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Monday to work on the eastbound bridge over Hominy Creek and Hominy Creek Road.
The primary detour will utilize I-240 East. Digital signs across the area notify motorists to use I-240 East for I-40 East being closed ahead. The ramp from I-26 West to I-40 East will be closed with message boards alerting motorists to continue to I-240 East. The Brevard Road onramp to I-40 East will also be closed with traffic detoured to utilize the I-240 East detour route.
Planned operations for this closure include hydro-demolition of old concrete from the deck and adding a modified concrete that will provide a new riding surface.
The $27.9 million interstate rehabilitation project includes roadway resurfacing and bridge overlays. It will also address spalling concrete on bridge substructure components — including the piers — and improve the riding surface of the four I-40 bridges over Hominy Creek and two bridges over the French Broad River. The contract calls for completion in the spring of 2026.
Asheville road closures, according to the city’s website:
- N. Market Street – Closed: Aug. 3
- Hiawassee Street – Closed until Aug. 9
- Vance Gap Road – Closed until Nov. 15
- College Street – Closed until Aug. 30, 2024
- Norwood Avenue – Closed until Aug. 9
- Wilmington Road – Closed until Aug. 12
Metropolitan Sewerage District road closures:
- Joyner Avenue at Amboy Road – Closed until Sept. 6
- Old Fairview Road at Wilmington Road – Closed until Aug. 12
- Norwood Avenue – Closed until Aug. 9
U.S. 19/129 closure in Cherokee Cunty
A North Carolina Department of Transportation contractor will close the southern intersection of Taylor Hensen Road at U.S. 19/129 on Monday to continue work on the road.
The southern stretch of Taylor Hensen Road will be closed between Old Evans Road and the highway through February to build an onsite detour for the highway and new alignment of Taylor Hensen Road. All traffic will be directed to the northern intersection of Taylor Hensen and U.S. 19/129.
This operation is part of the $67.1 million contract to modernize the highway between U.S. 64 and the Georgia line. Construction began this spring and the contract calls for completion in June 2029.
Drivers are encouraged to drive with caution and obey all posted traffic signs.
I-40 closure in Burke County
A contractor for NCDOT will divert Interstate 40 traffic to an offramp and then to an adjacent onramp at the Malcolm Boulevard exit in Burke County four nights this week.
Weather permitting, the short stretch of I-40 East under the bridge will close no earlier than 8 p.m. and open by 6 a.m. for four nights starting Monday, July 29.
The westbound side was closed last week.
These operations are part of a $2.3 million project to rehabilitate the bridge. The overnight closures will allow crews to safely remove the superstructure. The entire project consists of replacing the superstructure and other key components, adding new guardrail and a new riding surface with fresh lane markings and reflectors.
Willow Road closure rescheduled
A portion of Willow Road in Hendersonville that was scheduled to be closed to through traffic on July 26 will now be closed Friday, Aug. 2 related to the Ecusta Trail construction. Willow Road will be closed between Kanuga and Hebron. The road is expected to be closed to through traffic between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Please be alert for crews working in the area.
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