I-26 connector project: The public hearing we’ve all been waiting for

The I-26 connector project, one of the costliest, most hotly debated road projects ever in Asheville, will be the topic of a public hearing on Sept. 16 at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel downtown. It will cost hundreds of millions of dollars (an estimated $360 million). It will require homes and businesses to move. It’s been in discussion for two decades. (Construction is expected to start in 2013.)

This is a long-awaited hearing, at which the DOT will unveil the exact location of the proposed road. The key aspect of the connector, of course, is a replacement for the current Smoky Park Bridge. A local design group has been pushing for the construction of a “signature” bridge, but so far it seems those discussions haven’t stuck with N.C. DOT.

Here’s the nitty gritty:

The North Carolina Department of Transportation will hold a pre-hearing open house and public hearing on the project from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The presentation will begin at 7. DOT reps will be available to answer questions and receive comments.

The formal presentation will include an explanation of the proposed corridor location, design, right of way, relocation requirements/procedures, and the state-federal relationship. The hearing will be open for questions and comments.

The project calls for widening existing I-26/240 from the I-26/240 interchange to Patton Avenue and construct on new location a fully controlled access freeway from Patton Avenue to an interchange at US 19/23/70 on Broadway Street. The proposed freeway will be median divided with eight 12-foot travel lanes with 12-foot paved shoulders. Additional right-of-way and the relocation of homes and business will be required for this project.

Go here for more information from the N.C. DOT.

Mountain Xpress updates here and here.

The I-26 Awareness Group, a local group of activists, hasn’t updated their website in awhile, but here it is.

The Asheville Design Center is here.