ASHEVILLE – A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will shift traffic to a new section of Interstate 26 East near Brevard Road on Saturday night.
Crews will reduce the interstate to a single lane starting no earlier than 9 p.m. They will move safety barriers to the new section, and new pavement markings will be placed during this operation.
Crews will also close the ramp from Brevard Road to I-26 East during this operation. As a detour, drivers will continue south on Brevard Road and, turn left on Long Shoals Road to access I-26 East. Drivers heading north on Brevard Road should continue north to I-40 West then I-26 East.
The westbound onramp will remain open. NCDOT officials anticipate completing the entire operation by 10 a.m. on Sunday.
The contractor, Blythe Development, is on track to complete the $47.4 million project in December. The project includes new lanes for I-26, a new bridge on Brevard Road over the interstate, new ramps to I-26 and new exit ramps from the interstate.
Transportation officials remind drivers to slow down in work zones, drive with caution and obey all posted signs.