Crews have been busy for weeks, re-doing sidewalks and installing bump-out parking areas on Clingman Avenue near the River Arts District. Most recently, lanes have been closed as workers install a new traffic circle for the road, which links West Asheville with downtown. An Asheville resident recently called Xpress to call the new circle outrageous, and at City Council’s May 25 meeting, resident Fred English was critical of the traffic-calming measures. Mayor Terry Bellamy replied that the improvements were a state Department of Transportation project.

photo by Margaret Williams