Letter: I-26 widening will destroy homes, families, flora and fauna

I have read some articles that are against the widening of the I-26 project from Broadway exit to Stockton, which is past the Flat Creek exit. The N.C. Department of Transportation cannot decide how many lanes they need: six-eight. This will destroy homes and families, let alone Mother Nature: flora and fauna. I have written to the N.C. DOT since last September. And all the response is the same, the standard letter.

I wrote Gov. Pat McCrory last year and Gov. Roy Cooper this year. All my letters mentioned the amount of [motor vehicle accidents], the number of [state Highway Patrol], deputies and local city police departments to help out for accidents became a pileup like they do in other cities. And I also mentioned that Mission Hospital system’s ER could never handle a multicar collision pileup regardless of their construction.

The N.C. DOT in Raleigh has no idea what it is like to live in Western North Carolina, just like the tourists or visitors. The engineers do not have any idea what route they need to consider. They think they do, but they are wrong. When I moved into Asheville from Brevard, the [Capt.] Jeff Bowen Bridge was under review. All our bridges in North Carolina are awful. Jeff Bowen Bridge needs repairs badly. But some people in City Hall wanted a special bridge and they never came to a decision. That just boggles my mind.

Today they have funds to fix Pritchard Park. Get real, Asheville. We have enough construction going in Asheville. Why don’t you call Raleigh and ask them to fix the bridges in Buncombe County and screw the interstate system. We do not need eight lanes on I-26 going into North Asheville past Weaverville, let alone six lanes. It just creates people speeding! Drivers are always on the phone and some even try to text. I [wouldn’t] try speeding on these interstates when they state 60 mph. Because I will get behind you and chase you down, get your tag and make/model and color of your vehicle and just turn it in to the N.C. SHP. Because when you are busy speeding, you are in my neighborhood and I do not like it. …

— E. Wilkerson
Asheville