“But while small portions of the road do appear to be much-needed transformations, will we now turn away in disgust and denial over what we’re doing to the people, animals and environments that will be most dreadfully affected?”
Tag: I-26
Showing 1-21 of 89 results
Letter: Dreaming of Asheville’s Central Park
“The ongoing I-26 expansion offers a unique opportunity for our city to obtain something we all deserve — additional space for pickleball.”
Council opts for $5.9M in I-26 aesthetic improvements
The “aesthetic treatments” approved as part of the package include improved lighting, safety railing, pedestrian and bike surfaces and monument pillars.
Letter: WNC scarred by road rage bullies
“It seemed like the driver wanted to intentionally cause an accident with me.”
Letter: I-26 questions lead to frustration
“They all know exactly where the improvements to I-26 should be made and when. With absolutely no idea how much their ingenious planning ideas will cost the taxpayers!”
Despite progress, concerns about the I-26 Connector persist
When the DOT finally decided on a design for Section B of the Connector project in 2015, many stakeholders thought they saw light at the end of a very long tunnel. Other residents, however, see serious flaws in Alternative 4B, questioning whether the project’s long-term benefits will justify the sacrifices their neighborhoods must make to see it completed.
Letter: I-26 widening will destroy homes, families, flora and fauna
“We do not need eight lanes on I-26 going into North Asheville past Weaverville, let alone six lanes. It just creates people speeding!”
Letter writer: Sacrificing neighborhoods to I-26
“I am still stunned that Council has selected the highway with the largest footprint that will take the most land away from residential and business neighborhoods.”
How interstate highways changed the face of WNC
As plans move ahead for the Interstate 26 Connector project through Asheville, community members look back to reflect on the profound impact major road construction projects have had on the region.
The waiting is the hardest part
Main Street renaissance: WNC’s small towns confront growth, change
Asheville may be a top dream destination for many folks, but for an increasing number of newcomers and old-timers alike, the No. 1 dream destination may be just down the road a ways. With the challenges of urbanization besetting Asheville, newcomers and locals alike are turning to surrounding towns and communities in search of cheaper […]
4 B-etter than nothing
Letter writer: Why is Hominy Creek bridge work taking so long?
“We are in real trouble if this is the future of our interstate system.”
Crunch time for I-26 connector: DOT seeks public input as key decision nears
After more than two decades, the NCDOT is getting the ball rolling on the I-26 connector project. And though actual construction is still years away, the next few weeks are the public’s best chance to influence the route of a massive infrastructure project that, regardless of which option is chosen, will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, displace dozens of homes and businesses, and change the face of Asheville.
I-26 Connector hearing packs the room, DOT asks for input
After more than two decades of discussion, the North Carolina Department of Transportation is getting the ball rolling on the long-debated Interstate 26 Connector project, intended to improve traffic flow and bring the Asheville highway system up to current Interstate standards.
Down the road: The future of Future I-26
Identifying the challenges facing the Future I-26 project is fairly straightforward; implementing the needed improvements is more complicated. So how does an ordinary highway become an interstate? And when might the stretch north of downtown Asheville make the interstate grade?
Report: Asheville’s I-26 connector among top ‘highway boondoggles’ in U.S.
A new report by a national liberal advocacy group takes aim at the proposed local I-26 connector project, calling it one of the top “highway boondoggles” in the country.
The group behind the I-26 push
After being off the radar for years, both the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and Asheville City Council are voting to push the Asheville section of Interstate 26 connector forward. This new push is in part the result of a small group of local officials and leaders who have met to draft a new resolution and make some sort of I-26 overhaul a reality.
Mapping the future: The I-26 connector plans in maps and charts
As local leaders wrestle with different ideas about which route is best for an Interstate 26 connector through downtown Asheville, the N.C. Department of Transportation has put together a series of maps and charts to help inform the public about the options.
Buncombe commissioners support I-26 connector plan
Despite concerns over its longterm implications, Buncombe County commissioners voted unanimously March 18 to pass a resolution that calls on the N.C. Department of Transportation to construct a new $230 million Interstate 26 connector. (photo by Alicia Funderburk)
Buncombe commissioners to consider I-26 connector plan
Buncombe County commissioners will meet March 18 to consider a measure that calls on the NC Department of Transportation to construct a new $230 million I-26 connector.
