Haywood/Buncombe County -- June 1, 2026: Mountain drivers should prepare for extra travel time starting this week as two distinct state highway infrastructure projects hit the region, bringing long-term ramp closures to Haywood County and shoulder restrictions to Buncombe County.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) confirmed that the separate initiatives will impact different corridors. While the Asheville-area maintenance wraps up in a matter of days, the slowdown in Haywood County will stretch through the end of August.
1. Long-Term Ramp Closure: U.S. 23 Southbound to U.S. 276 (Haywood County)
The most significant local disruption hits the Waynesville and Lake Junaluska areas next week. Starting Monday, June 8 at 7:00 AM, crews will completely shut down all lanes of the exit ramp connecting U.S. 23 Southbound to U.S. 276.
Duration: 7:00 AM Monday, June 8 through 5:00 PM Sunday, August 30.
The Impact: Complete closure of all lanes on the ramp.
Detour Strategy: Motorists traveling southbound on the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway hoping to transition to U.S. 276 will face posted detours. State road officials advise using U.S. 276 South to loop back and re-access critical local corridors, or bypassing via Exit 102. Expect substantial delays during peak morning and afternoon commuter hours.
2. Immediate Shoulder Work: I-240 Westbound (Buncombe County)
Closer to Asheville, a much shorter but high-volume project begins this morning. Maintenance crews are setting up work zones along Interstate 240 Westbound, stretching from U.S. 70 down to Chunns Cove Road.
Duration: 9:00 AM Monday, June 1 through 4:00 PM Friday, June 5.
The Impact: All highway shoulders in this active work zone will be entirely closed.
The Takeaway: While actual travel lanes are slated to remain open, shoulder closures frequently lead to rubbernecking, tight lane shifting, and immediate backups on the approach to downtown Asheville.
NCDOT Safety Reminder
With summer travel season in full swing, transport officials are stressing extreme vigilance. Motorists are urged to:
Drop speeds immediately when entering marked work zones.
Keep eyes on the road and stay alert for active ground crews and changing lane patterns.
Verify live highway speeds and active updates via regional traffic maps on DriveNC.gov before heading out the door.