Construction work is underway for the $534 million project to widen a 27km stretch of I-26 in North Carolina. The project is being managed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
A 12.5km stretch of the route in Henderson County will be widened to six lanes at a cost of $271 million. The remaining 14.5km of the route in Buncombe County will be widened to eight lanes at a cost of $263 million.
The work includes demolishing an existing bridge and replacing it with a new structure, as well as building a further eight new bridges. Completion of the work is expected in the third quarter of 2026.
The work is being carried out between US 64 in Hendersonville to Brevard Road in Asheville. Section I-4400 begins at US 64 (Exit 49) in Hendersonville and extends along I-26 west to NC 280 (Exit 40). Section I-4700 extends along I-26 from NC 280 west to the I-40/240 interchange.
According to NCDOT, widening this stretch of I-26 will improve capacity to handle existing and future traffic volumes. The project will also improve permanent structures including bridges and drainage as well as pavement structure and deteriorating existing road surfaces. The existing roadway surface in the project area has undergone major rehabilitation twice, most recently in 2011.
