The N.C. Department of Transportation shaved millions off the initial cost estimate for the northern section of the Asheville I-26 Connector.
The NCDOT and Archer-Wright Joint Venture recently completed an Optimization and Refinement (O&R) process for the project, which led to a total savings of $124 million and an updated cost estimate of $1.023 billion.
The biggest savings during this process came from bridge construction. The team saved more than $63 million by reducing the overall number and width of the bridges across the French Broad River.
“The past six months have been a collaborative effort with our team at NCDOT and Archer-Wright JV,” said Nathan Moneyham, NCDOT’s Division 13 construction engineer. “We are pleased with the outcome of the O&R process and look forward to finally making this project a reality for the people of Asheville and Buncombe County.”
During the O&R period, NCDOT and Archer-Wright JV worked together to find scope reductions, construction efficiencies and innovations that retained the necessary functions of the project while bringing the cost more in line with planned estimates.
This process continued even after Hurricane Helene hit the mountains in September. While the recovery effort was and continues to be the immediate priority for NCDOT, the long-term transportation needs that this project addresses are critical to Western North Carolina.
“We knew it was important to continue and complete the O&R process on schedule,” Moneyham said. “This project has been decades in the making and it is imperative that we see it through.”
Archer-Wright JV will be responsible for constructing a new network that stretches from Haywood Road across the French Broad River to U.S. 19/23/70 by Broadway Street, and Riverside Drive from Hill Street to Broadway Street.
The biggest changes from the initial plan include the reduced impacts on Hill Street and to the Hillcrest community. The removal of the proposed connection from I-240 to Patton Avenue and redesign of the Hillcrest Connector eliminates several planned retaining walls and greatly reduces the impacts to this area.
This section of the I-26 Connector will transform vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian access to and through downtown Asheville. Construction of this section will remove interstate traffic from the Capt. Jeff Bowen bridges, allowing for new multi-modal connections and safer interchanges with local roads.
Archer-Wright JV has started design plans and plans to begin right of way acquisitions in the next year to 18 months. Construction will then begin soon after that.
“This is an exciting next step for our community,” Division 13 Engineer Tim Anderson said. “This means there is no doubt this project is now happening.”
NCDOT plans to host a public project update meeting this spring to give the community a chance to ask officials questions and see the details of the plan for the northern section of the I-26 Connector up close.
NCDOT plans to move forward with the project on its original schedule with completion expected in 2031.
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