I-40 East section in Asheville will be closed July 19-22: What to know about detours

ASHEVILLE - A short stretch of Interstate 40 will close this weekend to allow contract crews to work on a bridge between Interstate 26 and Hendersonville Road, the N.C. Department of Transportation said in a July 17 news release.

Crews from Asheville-based DBA Harrison Construction Company plan to close I-40 East from the I-240 East/I-26 West interchange (Exit 46B) to Hendersonville Road (Exit 50), weather permitting, to work on the eastbound bridge over Hominy Creek and Hominy Creek Road. The closure will begin at 8 p.m. July 19 and end at 6 a.m. July 22.

The main detour will utilize I-240 East, with digital signs in the area notifying motorists of the route. The ramp from I-26 West to I-40 East will be closed with message boards alerting motorists of the change.

The Brevard Road on-ramp to I-40 East will also be closed with traffic detoured onto I-240 East.

Scheduled tasks include milling bridge approach areas, bridge deck milling and repair and applying temporary lane markings, the release said.

The $27.9 million interstate rehabilitation project includes roadway resurfacing and bridge overlays. It will also address spalling concrete on bridge substructure components, including the piers, and improve the riding surface of the four I-40 bridges over Hominy Creek and two bridges over the French Broad River. The contract is slated for completion in spring 2026.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.

Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.