News

With opening of new lanes, I-26 in county is 'functionally complete'

By Lightning Reports, Published: April 10, 2025

Drivers have noticed small changes to Interstate 26 in recent weeks. There was big change of the interstate on Thursday.

The N.C. Department of Transportation opened new lanes on Thursday morning following an overnight closure to safely remove temporary traffic control. New lanes opened from the Fletcher-Mountain Home exit to Long Shoals Road.

The opening of the new lanes mark a major milestone in one of the largest transportation projects in western North Carolina history. The widening in Henderson County — a separate project from the widening in Buncombe County — is functionally complete and in its final pattern with final punch-list remaining.

“This was a long time coming and has been needed for a long time,” said Resident Engineer Mike Patton, who oversaw the project on a daily basis. “I think this should solve a lot of problems for traffic for a long time to come. As work continues finishing toward Asheville, we’ll have a long-term solution to problems that have been around for 20 years.”

Construction began in the fall of 2019 when traffic on I-26 experienced heavy congestion resulting in unpredictable traffic slow downs for local and long-distance drivers through Asheville.

Crews from Archer-Wright Joint Venture and multiple sub-contractors rebuilt the interstate from the ground up in Henderson County. They replaced bridges on and over the interstate, they upgraded all aspects of drainage — from pipes and culverts to slopes and gutters — established new roadbed under the concrete, and built 62 lane miles of new interstate plus shoulders, guardrail and walls. They also constructed two new rest areas with expanded facilities and features.

“We saw Covid. We saw material shortages. We’ve seen a hurricane,” Patton said. “We’ve seen a lot during the life of this project.”

All new lanes on I-26 East heading to South Carolina were opened from Airport Road (Exit 40) to U.S. 64 (Exit 49) last Saturday morning. That stretch includes four lanes of travel from Airport Road to U.S. 25 (Exit 44) and three lanes from there to U.S. 64 (Exit 49).

New lanes on I-26 West from Hendersonville opened Thursday morning. There will be four lanes from U.S. 25 to Airport Road, three lanes from Airport Road to Long Shoals Road, and two lanes through the remaining construction zone up to Brevard Road.

Plenty of punch list tasks still remain in Henderson County including final grinding, installation of permanent pavement markings, snow-plowable markers, the addition of rumble strips, finishing of signs and other tasks. Many of them will require overnight closures in certain sections to safely complete the tasks.

Major construction continues between Long Shoals Road and Brevard Road. Construction of a new Blue Ridge Parkway bridge and the addition of a new interchange have altered the original timetable in Buncombe County.

Once the parkway bridge is complete, then I-26 can be completed leaving the new interchange as the remaining major operation. The addition of Exit 35 — which will connect I-26 to Brevard Road near the North Carolina Arboretum — extends north section estimated functional completion date to late 2026.