ASHEVILLE – A contractor for the N.C. Department will close a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday to safely switch traffic a few feet onto a new section west of the existing bridge over Interstate 26.
Crews from Fluor-United will close the section between Hendersonville Road (milepost 388.1) and Brevard Road (milepost 393.1) to perform this operation. On Tuesday, crews will move safety gear and construction equipment and install lane markings.
Northbound Blue Ridge Parkway traffic will be directed to Brevard Road, then I-40 East and Hendersonville Road. Southbound traffic will take Hendersonville Road to Long Shoals Road to Clayton Road to Brevard Road.
Following the traffic shift, contract crews will begin building reinforced soil slopes in January and then build a new short section of the parkway.
Construction of a new Blue Ridge Parkway bridge is part of the I-26 widening projects — one in each county — that will improve safety and reduce travel times along the critical transportation corridor. The new bridge is necessary to accommodate free-flowing traffic on both directions of I-26.
NCDOT officials remind drivers to remain alert, obey all posted traffic signs and drive with caution in work zones and along detours.