Asheville -- Asheville Rides Transit (ART) is adjusting several key bus routes as the NCDOT moves forward with permanent ramp closures for the massive I-26 Connector project. Commuters using routes WE1, WE2, and W5 should prepare for detours and stop changes beginning mid-April.
Route & Stop Changes Effective April 16 and 17, 2026, buses on the WE1, WE2, and W5 lines will turn right from Patton Avenue onto Haywood Street to access I-240 Westbound, rejoining their standard routes at the I-26/I-240 junction.
Discontinued: Bus stop #154 (Hill St. & Riverside Dr.) is now permanently closed.
Alternative: Riders should use stop #311 (Atkinson St. at Hill St.), located approximately a 5- to 10-minute walk (0.25 miles) from the old location.
Note for Westbound Travelers: Stop #311 is served by Route N3 every 30 minutes (at :05 and :35 past the hour). To reach Westbound destinations, riders must take the N3 to the ART Station and transfer to their regular WE1, WE2, or W5 bus.
Permanent Ramp Closures The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has scheduled the following closures to facilitate the 7-mile freeway upgrade:
Riverside Drive Entrance to I-240/I-26: Closed as of 9 p.m. on April 16. Detour via Broadway Street for I-26 East.
I-240/I-26 Off-Ramp to Hill Street: Closing at 9 p.m. on April 17. Drivers should continue to Exit 25 (Broadway Street).
Coming Soon: The Patton Avenue eastbound ramp to the Westgate Bridge frontage road is slated for closure in early May.
Looking Ahead These changes are vital steps in the multiyear I-26 project, designed to link Southwest Asheville to the U.S. 19/23/70 corridor. Riders are encouraged to sign up for iRide email notifications for real-time updates as construction progresses.