I-26 widening update south of Asheville, thanks to NCDOT CCTV. We’ll go from east to west, starting at the I-40 interchange.
Exits 31-33The widening at the N.C. 191 and interchange modification is mostly complete. It doesn't show up in the Construction Progress Report any more, but I don't think it's at 100% yet.
I-26 appears to be in a “temporarily permanent” 2 + auxiliary lane configuration between exits 31 and 33. It makes sense eastbound due to the separate and ongoing widening project to the east, but I figured they would have gone ahead and opened all of the westbound lanes approaching I-40.
MM 31Facing west, eastbound lanes back up before the opening of the auxiliary lane. Traffic from I-40 eastbound frequently backs up on the single lane ramp.
Facing east. The pavement markings look like they’re intended to be there for a while. The eastbound auxiliary lane exits for I-40 eastbound, and westbound exits at Brevard Rd.
MM 33 (westbound)This cam has been down for about six weeks and I don't believe it shows the current lane configuration.
Exits 33-37A westbound lane shift was supposed to have already happened along this section. There was an announcement a year ago that it would occur during the summer of 2021, but it never happened. Eastbound lanes were recently shifted to the shoulder, so it’s probably not too far off. Unfortunately, I don’t know the progress of the Blue Ridge Parkway bridge.
MM 33 (eastbound)
MM 34Eastbound lanes were shifted towards the shoulder a couple of weeks ago.
The Pratt & Whitney facility that is under construction can be seen on the hill in the background. This is the reason for the proposed exit and access road at MM 35.
MM 35The French Broad River bridge is just out of view. There are
numerous retaining walls along this section.
MM 36Tiny picture at the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Street View is better.
MM 37 (westbound)
Exits 37-40A longer traffic shift has taken place between Long Shoals Rd. and Airport Rd. Westbound lanes are now on the eastbound side, including a completely new section constructed in the median that will carry the future eastbound lanes. The westbound lanes are currently being torn out and rebuilt. The future eastbound bridge over Glenn Bridge Rd. is complete and carrying westbound lanes while the westbound side is under construction.
MM 37 (eastbound)
MM 38.5
MM 39The new eastbound lanes are carrying the westbound lanes at Glenn Bridge Rd.
MM 40 (westbound)The combination of the curve, crest of the hill, and merging on-ramp with a lot of traffic from Airport Rd. has turned this spot into a location of frequent slow-downs. Hopefully that improves after the widening.
Exits 40-44Now it’s time for the eastbound lanes to shift to the westbound side.
MM 40 (eastbound)Rolling road block.
The eastbound rest area should be close to completion if landscaping is going in. Westbound is a little further behind.
New concrete.
I’m not sure if it’s exaggerated due to the zoom, but this seems more like a chicane than a traffic shift.
MM 44 (westbound)
Exits 44-49Work seems to be progressing at a slower rate along this section, or maybe it’s less obvious. All of the replacement overpasses have been finished. Median drainage is going in. Exit 44 is being converted to a Diverging Diamond Interchange. Not much has happened beyond the on and off-ramps.
Westbound, slowdowns tend to start at the U.S. 25 interchange (Exit 44). The westbound ramp is being shifted over to eliminate the
ridiculous grade, curve and curb. Eastbound, this is where the widening goes from eight lanes to six lanes. This should be interesting in the future since traffic volumes don’t decrease much after Exit 44 (they were actually slightly higher in 2019 and 2020, but maybe that was due to construction). However, congestion seems to be less frequent east of Exit 44 than the section near the airport. I think they should be widening I-26 to eight lanes to Exit 54 instead of the "hybrid 6/8" alternative they selected, and expanded the scope of the project to widen I-26 to six lanes through the Green River Gorge. Oh well....
Interestingly, the
bridge over Clear Creek is being built wide enough to accommodate eight lanes, but
the bridge over the Blue Ridge Southern Railroad isn’t. Additionally, there are westbound retaining walls on both sides of the Clear Creek Bridge
and there is only a 14-foot shoulder between the outside lane and walls, so there isn’t room for an additional lane anyway. I can’t figure that one out.
Exit 44 (eastbound)Widening off-ramp.
Not much has happened over the past month or so with the bridge over the Blue Ridge Southern Railroad.
MM 45.5New drainage going in the median.
It’s a good thing the ramps to the weigh stations are being extended. Truck traffic has increased significantly over the past decade.
MM 47.5
There is apparently a bunch of rock in the area near MM 47.5. They have been drilling and breaking up rocks for more than a year.
They were even blasting in the median.
Bat Cave remains signed for now... it will eventually be replaced with 'Chimney Rock Rd'. Lame.
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Topic: I-26 (Read 19572 times)