North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Construction crews are preparing to move into the French Broad River as work advances on the $1.8-billion I-26 Connector project in Asheville.
Archer-Wright Joint Venture, the contractor for the northern section of the project, is expected to begin constructing a temporary rock causeway in the river within the next month. The work will provide crews with access to the river so they can build foundations for four new bridges that will carry I-26/240 traffic across the waterway.
The temporary causeway will be built on the east side of the French Broad River near river mile marker 71.5. The work area will be moved as construction progresses through different phases of the bridge work and is expected to remain in use through 2029.
The I-26 Connector is a roughly seven-mile, median-divided freeway that will connect I-26 in southwest Asheville with U.S. 19/23/70 in northwest Asheville. The project is divided into several sections and includes a new interstate alignment across the French Broad River, interchange improvements and upgrades to I-240 and Riverside Drive. NCDOT says the project is funded for approximately $1.8 billion.
The new river crossing is a key component of the project. NCDOT says the Connector is intended to improve capacity and reduce congestion on I-240, including the existing crossing of the French Broad River. It will also reduce traffic on the Captain Jeff Bowen bridges, extending their remaining useful life.
The causeway will be constructed using clean rock, or riprap, to create a stable work surface within the river.
NCDOT coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other permitting agencies to obtain approvals for the temporary work area. During construction, the transportation department says it will monitor water quality and bank stability and use measures designed to minimize impacts to the river.
Standard best management practices will be used during construction. Once the bridge work is complete, the temporary causeway will be removed and the affected area restored.
The northern section of the Connector is being delivered under a design-build contract awarded to Archer-Wright Joint Venture. NCDOT has said the northern section is expected to be completed in 2031.
River users urged to use caution
The construction will also affect people using the French Broad River.
NCDOT is advising river users travelling beyond the Craven Street Bridge near river mile marker 71 to use caution as construction activity begins.
Signs and clearly marked travel lanes will be installed to guide boaters and other river users around the construction area. Users are being asked to follow posted notices, remain in designated safe travel lanes and stay away from the temporary causeway and other active construction areas.
River conditions can change quickly because of water levels, weather and other factors. Conditions around the construction area and future bridge piers may also change as work progresses.
NCDOT has developed a river-user communication and safety program for the project, recognizing that the French Broad River will remain in use while construction is underway.
The I-26 Connector is intended to provide a controlled-access interstate connection between I-26 south of Asheville and U.S. 19/23/70 north of the city. Once completed, it will form part of the larger I-26 corridor linking the Charleston, South Carolina, area with I-81 near Kingsport, Tennessee.