Press release from the N.C. Department of Transportation:
Drivers heading west on Interstate 26 over the French Broad River will be driving on a new bridge Wednesday morning if the weather cooperates.
A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will close I-26 West from Airport Road to Interstate 40 on Tuesday night — weather permitting — to shift traffic from its current pattern on the old bridge to a new pattern across a new section of bridge. The contractor will also take advantage of the closure to upgrade interstate striping along the entire 9-mile stretch.
This operation is currently scheduled to begin no earlier than 8 p.m. on Tuesday and should be concluded by 6 a.m. on Wednesday. Wet weather conditions may postpone the operation until the next available night.
A marked detour will direct traffic to Airport Road (N.C. 280), then Hendersonville Road to Interstate 40. Traffic lights on the detour route will remain green longer to accommodate additional overnight traffic coming from the interstate.
Crews from Fluor-United will soon begin removing sections of the old bridge in the same way crews removed sections of an old bridge at this location in 2022. Then crews will begin constructing the final section before finishing this section of the I-26 widening project resulting in one eight-lane bridge over the river.
Transportation officials remind drivers to remain alert, avoid distractions and obey all posted signs inside the work zone.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
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