Press release from N.C. Department of Transportation:
Drivers heading west on Interstate 26 over the French Broad River will be driving on a new bridge next Tuesday morning if the weather cooperates.
A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will close I-26 West from Long Shoals Road (Exit 37) to Brevard Road (Exit 33) on Monday 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 upgrade interstate striping in this stretch and utilize slow-roll delays to upgrade lines between Airport Road and Long Shoals Road.
This operation is currently scheduled to begin no earlier than 8 p.m. on Monday and should be concluded by 6 a.m. on Tuesday. Wet weather conditions may postpone the operation until the next available night.
A marked detour will direct traffic to Long Shoals Road (N.C. 146), then Hendersonville Road to I-40 to Brevard Road. 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.
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