Interstate 240 is a 9.5 mile long urban loop joining I-40 north with Downtown Asheville. I-26 overlaps with I-240 east from I-40 to West Asheville and the Captain Jeff Brown Bridge spanning the French Broad River. U.S. 19/23/74A overlap with I-240 between Patton Avenue and Future I-26 north from Downtown. U.S. 70/74A follow I-240 east from Future I-26 to Carolina Street.
The oldest section of I-240 was built in 1961 as a new alignment for U.S. 70 to the north of Downtown. This portion ran east from Patton Avenue to NC 694 (Town Mountain Road). Work later completed the freeway between I-40 and Patton Avenue on the west side of Asheville in 1969 as a new alignment for NC 191. The easternmost section of I-240, from NC 694 to I-40 and U.S. 74-A, was completed in 1980.1
Extension of Interstate 26 from I-40 in southwest Asheville to I-81 in the Tri-Cities region of Tennessee created an overlap with I-240 in 2003. Future work on the I-26 Connector, slated to begin in 2021, shifts I-26/240 to a new alignment. Subsequent construction will modernize the substandard section of I-26/240 southwest from Patton Avenue (U.S. 19-23-74A).
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| Interstate 240 and U.S. 70 shield assembly posted within the three-level interchange at Tunnel Road. This state-named shield was eventually replaced. Photo taken 08/01/01. |
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| The eastbound c/d roadway from Tunnel Road at the intersecting ramps with I-240 and U.S. 70 at Exit 7. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
 2 photos 2 photos | The westbound c/d roadway from I-240 to U.S. 70 (Tunnel Road) ties into the entrance ramp from U.S. 70 west at a T-intersection. Photos taken 12/31/13. |
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| NC 191 (Brevard Road) south at the entrance ramp to I-240 east / I-26 west. Brevard Road continues south to a folded diamond interchange (Exit 47) with Interstate 40 nearby. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
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| U.S. 19/23 trailblazers direct motorists onto I-240 east / I-26 west to Downtown Asheville. U.S. 19/23 Business merge onto the freeway at Exit 2. They are followed by the U.S. 19/23 mainline merge at Exit 3, with all four routes spanning the French Broad River alongside U.S. 74A into central Asheville. Photo taken 07/16/05. |
Page Updated 08-15-2020.
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