At a glance: 4 options for I-26 over the river

Mark Barrett | The Citizen-Times

A decision next year on how to build a new highway over the French Broad River north of Bowen Bridge will cause dramatic changes to the area between downtown and residential neighborhoods in West Asheville no matter which choice the state makes. NCDOT is currently taking public comment on the options through Dec. 16. Here is a quick look at the options for the segment of road dealing with the French Broad River crossing and Patton Avenue:

Alternative 3

I-26 in Asheville Option 3 I-26 in Asheville Option 3

This alternative would include a new route for I-26 running north from the I-240/Patton Avenue interchange along the west side of the French Broad River that would cross the river about a mile north of Bowen Bridge and connect with U.S. 19-23 about 0.6 miles south of the Broadway exit. I-240 and Patton Avenue traffic would continue to use Bowen Bridge.

Pros

The second-cheapest alternative.

The most direct route for north-south traffic on what will become I-26.

Traffic on Patton Avenue between West Asheville and downtown would face only one traffic light, near the present Regent Park Boulevard intersection.

Fewer effects on Montford than 4 and 4B.

Cons

Would do nothing to improve the substandard interchange just east of Bowen Bridge other than reducing the number of vehicles using it.

Traffic on Bowen Bridge would be reduced from last year's figure of 102,000 cars a day, but still significant in the year 2033 at 70,600 vehicles a day.

I-240 and Patton Avenue traffic would mix on Bowen Bridge, creating a need for cars to change lanes.

Hillcrest Apartments would remain isolated.

-- Access to West Gate shopping center and Haywood Road would be difficult.

-- Traffic flow at several points in and around the Patton Avenue/I-26/I-240 interchange west of Bowen Bridge would meet standards but would be relatively slow at times.

-- A negative impact on the Burton Street neighborhood.

The numbers

Cost: $236.1 million

Navigable waterway crossings: 2

Residential relocations: 34

Business relocations: 24

Nonprofit relocations: 2

Total relocations: 60

Homes, business and parks impacted by noise: 193

Alternative 3C

I-26 in Asheville Option 3C I-26 in Asheville Option 3C

This alternative would also include a new route for I-26 running north from the I-240/Patton Avenue interchange, but unlike Alternative 3, it would cross the French Broad River only half a mile north of Bowen Bridge, connecting to U.S. 19-23 about 0.3 miles north of its Hill Street exit. I-240 and Patton Avenue traffic would continue to use Bowen Bridge.

Pros

The cheapest alternative.

Would require less land than Alternative 3, but probably more than Alternative 4B.

Cons

All of the disadvantages of Alternative 3, listed above, would also apply to 3C.

The numbers

Cost: $230.7 million

Navigable waterway crossings: 2

Residential relocations: 23

Business relocations: 33

Nonprofit relocations: 1

Total relocations: 57

Homes, business and parks impacted by noise: 133

Alternative 4

I-26 in Asheville Option 4 I-26 in Asheville Option 4

This alternative would include a new route for I-26 running north from the I-240/Patton Avenue interchange along the west side of the French Broad River that would cross the river about a mile north of Bowen Bridge and connect with U.S. 19-23 about 0.6 miles south of the Broadway exit. (Alternative 3 shows a similar route for that section of road.) I-240 traffic would be removed from Bowen Bridge and directed north on what is now U.S. 19-23, crossing the French Broad just north of the Hill Street exit and curling around to connect with existing I-240 at what is now the Patton Avenue/I-240 interchange in West Asheville.

Pros

Would separate I-240 traffic from Patton Avenue traffic, allowing Bowen Bridge to be turned into a boulevard-style city street with opportunities for expanded pedestrian and bicycle paths.

Would address substandard ramps and other issues at the I-240/U.S. 19-23 interchange near the east end of Bowen Bridge.

Could free up property for reuse at interchanges near the east and west ends of Bowen Bridge.

Easier access to West Gate and Haywood Road.

Better I-26 traffic flow in the area west of Bowen Bridge.

Relatively little impact on the Burton Street neighborhood.

Cons

Through traffic on I-240 would have to travel 0.5 to 0.7 miles farther to get across the French Broad than today. That traffic could slow at times.

Drivers on Patton Avenue would have to navigate five traffic lights from Regent Park Boulevard to where the I-240/U.S. 19-23 interchange is today.

The second most expensive alternative.

More bridges over the French Broad.

Negative impact on parts of Montford.

The numbers

Cost: $304.7 million

Navigable waterway crossings: 4

Residential relocations: 46

Business relocations: 24

Nonprofit relocations: 2

Total relocations: 72

Homes, business and parks impacted by noise: 312

Land impacted: 113.7 acres

Alternative 4B

I-26 in Asheville Option 4B I-26 in Asheville Option 4B

The new route for I-26 would run north from the I-240/Patton Avenue interchange and would cross the French Broad River only half a mile north of Bowen Bridge, connecting to U.S. 19-23 about 0.3 miles north of its Hill Street exit. (Alternative 3C shows a similar route for that section of road.) I-240 traffic would be removed from Bowen Bridge and directed north on what is now U.S. 19-23, crossing the French Broad just north of the Hill Street exit and curling around to connect with existing I-240 where the Patton Avenue/I-240 interchange is now in West Asheville.

Pros

All of the advantages of Alternative 4 would also apply.

More compact than Alternative 4, thus requiring less land.

Cons

All of the disadvantages of Alternative 4 would also apply. The number of traffic lights for Patton Avenue traffic would be four instead of the five called for in Alternative 4.

The most expensive of all the alternatives.

Less direct access from the north to the West Asheville end of Patton Avenue.

The numbers

Cost: $332 million

Navigable waterway crossings: 4

Residential relocations: 33

Business relocations: 34

Nonprofit relocations: 1

Total relocations: 68

Homes, business and parks impacted by noise: 224

Source: N.C. Department of Transportation draft environmental impact statement.

To learn more or comment

DOT's draft study of alternatives for the I-26 Connector and accompanying maps are online here. Hard copies are available for public viewing at Pack Library at 67 Haywood St., West Asheville Library at 942 Haywood Road, DOT offices at 55 Orange St., the Buncombe County Law Library in the county courthouse and the city government transportation office in City Hall.

Public comments can be submitted by Dec. 16 to Drew Joyner, NCDOT, 1598 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, 27699-1598 or PublicInvolvement2@ncdot.gov or via the web address above.