Scheduled Overnight I-26 Closures

Asheville -- March 23 2023: Drivers passing through Asheville should be informed
that Interstate 26 will some  overnight closures.

in order to facilitate a Blue Ridge Parkway construction milestone.

Consecutive overnight closures of I-26, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), will enable contract workers to complete an important step in building a new bridge to carry the Blue Bridge Parkway across the interstate.

Schedule is as follows:

Monday —
Location: I-26 East from U.S. 25 Business (Exit 44) to U.S. 64 (Exit 49)
Detour: U.S. 25 Business (Asheville Highway) to U.S. 176 to Upward Road
Operations: Preparing for traffic shift

Tuesday — 
Location: I-26 West from U.S. 64 (Exit 49) to U.S. 25 Business (Exit 44)
Detour: U.S. 64 to U.S. 25 Business to I-26
Operations: Asphalt surface repairs

Wednesday — 
Location: I-26 West from Airport Road (Exit 40) to Brevard Road (Exit 33)
Detour: Airport Road to U.S. 25 (Hendersonville Road) to I-40
Operations: Asphalt surface repairs

Thursday — 
Location: I-26 East from Long Shoals Road (Exit 37) to U.S. 64 (Exit 49)
Detour: Long Shoals Road to U.S. 25 (Asheville Highway) to U.S. 176 to Upward Road
Operation: Traffic shift from Clear Creek Road to U.S. 64 and asphalt repairs

Friday — 
Make-up day, if necessary

Following the overnight traffic shift, eastbound motorists in Henderson County will be able to use a portion of the new freeway on Friday morning. The current flow of traffic will be switched to the median, and a brand-new temporary exit ramp for Exit 49A (U.S. 64 West) into Hendersonville's downtown will be made available.

The I-26 expansion project, which will be finished in the spring of 2025, will reduce traffic and improve travel times. These works are a part of that project.

Transportation authorities advise drivers to be cautious, vigilant, and to respect all traffic signs as they enter and leave the work zone.

WNCtimes by Marjorie Farrington