ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Drivers crossing Bowen Bridge into downtown Asheville are seeing a dramatically different landscape these days as work on the Interstate 26 Connector accelerates.

In recent weeks, crews with the North Carolina Department of Transportation have cleared large sections of trees and vegetation along the project corridor. Hillsides that were once heavily wooded — including areas behind the former FedEx building, near Asheville Racquet Club Downtown and along Patton Avenue — have been stripped to make way for future construction.

According to Tom Veazey, NCDOT’s Asheville resident engineer, the clearing is one of the first major visible signs of progress on the long-awaited project.

“The most visible progress over the last couple weeks is the clearing and grubbing taking place across the project,” Veazey said. “This is one of the initial steps needed to open up access for the new roadway alignments and utility relocations.”

NCDOT crews continue land clearing and site preparation along the Interstate 26 Connector corridor in Asheville as construction progresses on the long-awaited highway project.

Heavy machinery is reshaping the Interstate 26 Connector corridor in Asheville as crews prepare for the next phase of construction.

NCDOT crews continue land clearing and site preparation along the Interstate 26 Connector corridor in Asheville as construction progresses on the long-awaited highway project.

Heavy equipment clears trees and prepares the Interstate 26 Connector corridor for future roadway and bridge construction in Asheville.

Construction continues on the Interstate 26 Connector project, where crews are preparing the corridor for new highway alignments and bridges over the French Broad River.

Crews work along the Interstate 26 Connector corridor in Asheville as the project enters an early phase of land clearing and site preparation.

Land clearing and site preparation continue along the Interstate 26 Connector corridor as work progresses on one of North Carolina’s largest transportation projects.

Heavy machinery is reshaping the Interstate 26 Connector corridor in Asheville as crews prepare for the next phase of construction.

NCDOT crews continue clearing land along the Interstate 26 Connector corridor in Asheville as construction ramps up on the multibillion-dollar highway project.

While tree removal has drawn the most attention from motorists, transportation officials say the project’s next major focus will be construction of new I-26 bridges over the French Broad River.

Veazey said drivers should expect continued traffic changes as crews create space for bridge construction and other work.

“Minor traffic shifts have taken place over the last few months and will continue in the coming weeks,” he said. “These movements are needed to provide additional space for construction of these new highway structures.”

Motorists can also expect overnight lane closures between Haywood Road and Broadway Street for the foreseeable future. Significant traffic shifts are planned in the coming weeks, including changes along Interstate 240 East near Patton Avenue and on Interstate 26 West/U.S. 23 North between Hill Street and Broadway.

State and local leaders officially broke ground on the connector project in April, marking the start of a long-awaited effort aimed at improving safety, reducing congestion and strengthening transportation connections across Western North Carolina.

When complete, the I-26 Connector will create a continuous interstate route linking Interstate 26 south of Asheville with U.S. 19/23/70 north of the city. Transportation officials say the project will improve freight movement between the mountains and South Carolina’s Port of Charleston while addressing one of the region’s most persistent traffic bottlenecks.