ASHEVILLE – A resurfacing operation to improve U.S. 25 (Broadway Avenue and Biltmore Avenue) through the heart of downtown will require complete closures of short sections of roadway on a nightly basis.
The N.C. Department of Transportation, its contractor, and City of Asheville officials have agreed on a construction plan that reduces impacts to local businesses, residents, and visitors starting on May 30.
Based on similar successful resurfacing in Highlands and Boone, the downtown corridor will be split into four sections, with two nights of work planned for each section — one night to mill existing pavement and the next night to place new asphalt and lines. The road will be restriped in the existing pattern.
Other resurfacing plans would require nightly single lane closures through downtown and have greater impacts on traffic and business operations, including daytime parking closures.
In general, the contractor will start on Broadway near Interstate 240, continue resurfacing beyond College Street, and work along Biltmore Avenue to the intersection with South Charlotte Street. All sections will remain open on Friday and Saturday nights.
“This plan allows the contractor to resurface the road for the first time in more than 25 years while allowing businesses to operate as usual,” NCDOT Division 13 Assistant Construction Engineer Jody Lawrence said. “Working a few blocks at a time provides all the necessary safety components, maximizes the contractor’s resources, lessens business interruption and reduces impacts to all modes of transportation.”
Each section will be closed from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following morning. On-street parking will be restricted the day before operations begin in each section. Pedestrian access to businesses along the corridor will not be impeded.
The operation will progress along the following schedule, weather permitting, starting May 30 with each section and its cross-streets closed:
- Nights 1 & 2: From the I-240 exit ramp to College Street
- Nights 3 & 4: From West Walnut Street to Eagle Street
- Nights 5 & 6: From Patton Avenue to Hilliard Avenue
- Nights 7 & 8: From Aston Street to South Charlotte Street
Crews will mark detours each night with Lexington Avenue and Charlotte Street serving most traffic.
This operation is part of an $3.1 million contract with Rogers Group of Greer, S.C. to resurface U.S. 25 from Beaverdam Road to Southside Avenue, and other roads in Asheville.