ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Drivers heading north on Interstate 26 through Asheville should prepare for overnight lane closures next week as crews continue rock removal for the Interstate 26 Connector project.
The right lane of northbound U.S. 23/I-26 is scheduled to close from around mile marker 26 to Exit 25 at Broadway from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, through Thursday, Oct. 8, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation.
Crews will use the closures to haul rock from the construction area. Friday, Oct. 9, is being held as a rain makeup night if needed.
The work follows a rock-removal operation Thursday near the I-26/Broadway interchange that NCDOT spokesperson Stephanie Johnson said went as planned.
Thursday’s work won’t be the last of it. NCDOT expects similar rock-removal operations periodically over the coming months as crews stabilize slopes along the corridor.
Blasting will take place between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. when needed. NCDOT said it will provide advance notice when blasting is expected to affect traffic.
Montford access remains limited
Elsewhere along the project, construction continues to limit connections between Montford and Riverside Drive.
Those changes are tied to the Hill Street closure and construction of the new I-26 alignment, Atkinson Street Bridge and a roundabout connecting Hill Street, Atkinson Street, Courtland Avenue and Houston Street.
Some connections between Montford and Riverside Drive are currently severed, limiting access to the river. NCDOT said they are tentatively scheduled to be restored in winter 2027-28.
The agency provided the timeline after Resident Engineer Tom Veazey attended a recent Montford Neighborhood Association meeting to update residents and answer questions about the project.
Noise study continues
NCDOT also continues to study how traffic noise from the future I-26 configuration could affect nearby properties.
A final Design Noise Report, expected in spring 2027, will identify properties that could be affected and evaluate possible mitigation measures. More details will be available once the report is complete.
The I-26 Connector remains on schedule for completion in late 2031, according to NCDOT.
Residents with questions or concerns about the project may contact the I-26 Connector project team at i26connector@ncdot.gov.
