Abigail Margulis

amargulis@citizen-times.com

ASHEVILLE - Two lanes reopened on Interstate 240 East and a portion of Riverside Drive in West Asheville around 1:30 p.m. Friday, according to the city of Asheville.

The lanes had been closed around 11 a.m. while officers with the Asheville Police Department and the Asheville Fire Department responded to an emergency situation, according to Asheville police spokesman Wallace Welch.

Emergency responders arrived to the area of Bowen Bridge just west of downtown Asheville and kept one lane on I-240 East remained opened, but closed the portion of Riverside Drive below the bridge.

Motorists were forced to slow down or in some cases come to a complete stop while traffic backed up due to the incident. Many drivers were rerouted through West Asheville via Haywood Street and Amboy Road in the River Art's District.