Asheville -- Novemeber 1, 2026: Commuters and freight traffic navigating the heart of Buncombe County face a fresh round of traffic shifts, ramp closures, and flagging operations this week as construction presses forward on the multibillion-dollar Interstate 26 Connector project.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) confirmed that contractors will carry out a mix of daytime surface improvements and heavy overnight structural work across key corridors in West Asheville and downtown connecting routes from Monday, Nov. 2, through Friday, Nov. 6.
For motorists moving between Haywood County, downtown Asheville, and northern Buncombe, here is the full schedule of operations, detours, and work zones slated for the week:
Detailed Closure and Work Schedule
Hazel Mill Road (Daytime Paving & Flagging): Active paving between Emma Road and Richland Street will require single-lane closures coordinated with on-site flagging crews Monday, Nov. 2, through Thursday, Nov. 5, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. Drivers traveling through the Emma community should anticipate intermittent stopping and localized delays during mid-day hours. Friday, Nov. 6, is reserved as an operational make-up day (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) if weather causes delays earlier in the week.
I-240 / I-26 Exit 2 Ramp (Overnight Ramp Closure): The entrance ramp connecting Haywood Street to westbound I-240 / eastbound I-26 will be completely closed nightly from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., Monday night through Wednesday morning, Nov. 2–4. This total closure allows crews to safely remove existing concrete curbing. Drivers seeking highway access from Haywood Street should detour via secondary downtown routes or access the highway via Montford Avenue or Patton Avenue.
Patton Avenue Frontage Road (Overnight Shift & Barriers): Overnight work scheduled nightly from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. will include pavement restriping, placing temporary concrete barriers, and implementing an active traffic shift along the Patton Avenue frontage corridor. Motorists should stay alert for newly aligned lanes and adjusted travel paths during morning commutes.
I-240 / I-26 Westbound Near Bowen Bridge (Overnight Lane Restriction): A right-lane closure extending up to one mile westbound approaching the Captain Jeff Bowen Bridge will run nightly from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Crews will be utilizing this closure to remove old guardrails and construct permanent retaining walls.
Driver Guidance and Safety Reminders
NCDOT officials urge all motorists to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, reduce speeds inside active work zones, and watch closely for sudden merges near the bridge approaches:
Obey Posted Work-Zone Speeds: Law enforcement monitors these corridors closely, and state law carries substantial penalties for speeding through designated highway work zones.
Yield to Daytime Flaggers: Motorists traveling along Hazel Mill Road must follow manual directions from on-site flaggers at all times.
Check Live Travel Conditions Before You Go: For real-time updates, sudden weather adjustments, and live incident tracking across Western North Carolina, visit DriveNC.gov or call 511.