Project Overview
Planning and development are underway to widen a 5.4-mile stretch of Sweeten Creek Road (U.S. 25A) in Asheville from two lanes to a four–lane, median divided roadway. The improvements include 11-foot travels lanes, a 17.5-foot raised median, with a 10-foot-wide multiuse path on the west side and a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the east side from Hendersonville Road (U.S. 25) to Rock Hill Road.
The posted speed limit will be reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph. At Mills Gap Road, the project has been split into two sections, north (U-2801AB) and south (U-2801AA), respectively.
Sweeten Creek Road is a heavily traveled two–lane commuter corridor that connects South Asheville to downtown and serves as an alternate route to Hendersonville Road.
The proposed improvements would help reduce existing and anticipated future traffic congestion and improve traffic flow within the project limits as well as support current and future residential and business development.
Preliminary engineering activities (design, planning, environmental studies) needed for project development are underway. The south section (U-2801AA) is currently unfunded in the 2026-2035
State Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP while the north section (U-2801AB) in funded for preliminary engineering only. The schedule for right of way, utilities and/or construction has not been finalized at this time. The schedule will be developed for both sections later during reprioritization.
Project Funding
This project is listed as Project U-2801AA and U-2801AB in the
N.C. Department of Transportation's State Transportation Improvement Program and is funded for $361.5 million.
Utilities
| $8,400,000
| $8,400,000
|
Property acquisition
| $92,500,000
| $56,600,000
|
Construction costs
| $84,600,000
| $111,000,000
|
*Estimated costs subject to change