ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Parts of Interstate 40 between Hendersonville Road and Interstate 26 will close this weekend, weather permitting, so contractors can start rehabilitating bridges and doing resurfacing work, the North Carolina Department of Transportation reported.
The plan is to close I-40 West from Hendersonville Road (exit 50) to I-26 East (exit 46A) from 8 p.m. Friday, April 26, through 6 a.m. on Monday, April 29, the department said in a release posted online.
It’s the start of a $27.9 million project, which will include roadway resurfacing and bridge overlays. According to the release, it also will 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 with DBA Harrison Construction Co. calls for completion in spring 2026.
From the release: “A detour route will notify motorists to use I-240 West for I-40 West being closed ahead. Onramps from Hendersonville Road to I-40 West will be closed with message boards alerting motorists to utilize I-40 East to I-240 West. The Brevard Road onramp to I-40 West will also be closed with traffic detoured to utilize the I-240 West detour route.”
The department said the traffic management plan is intended to reduce disruptions to daily traffic but required closing stretches of the roadway for six weekends, for safety reasons and to help expedite the work.
“As construction progresses through the year, the traffic plan includes phases with nighttime lane closures for the asphalt resurfacing, installation of a new guardrail, concrete drainage construction and pavement markers. Alternative options included regular daytime closures which would have extended the length of the contract and created more traffic disruptions,” the release states.
Construction crews also plan to install pedestrian protections for users of the French Broad River Greenway under the full width of the bridges over the greenway. That work will take place during night hours, starting as soon as this week, when the greenway is closed to reduce impacts to users, the release stated.