May 2024
Archer Western and Wright Brothers Construction joint venture awarded design-build contract for I-26 Asheville Downtown Connector
Asheville, NC – The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded Archer-Wright Joint Venture (Archer-Wright JV) a design-build contract for the planning, design, and construction of the northern (downtown) section of the I-26 Asheville Connector.
Archer-Wright JV is composed of Archer Western Construction and Wright Brothers Construction Company with lead engineering firm RK&K. The Archer-Wright JV will be responsible for constructing a new network that stretches from Haywood Road across the French Broad River to U.S. 19/23/70 by Broadway Street, and Riverside Drive from Hill Street to Broadway Street.
This section of the I-26 Connector will transform vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian access to and through downtown Asheville. Construction of this section will remove interstate traffic from the Capt. Jeff Bowen bridges, allowing for new multi-modal connections and safer interchanges with local roads.
The Bowen bridges currently carry I-26 and I-240 across the French Broad River just west of downtown. Right now, this section of freeway does not meet interstate design standards. Construction of the new section of the I-26 Connector will place I-26 and I-240 traffic on a new structure across the French Broad River that meets interstate standards, allowing for the Bowen bridges to serve local traffic and provide major pedestrian and bicycle access to and from downtown. These aspects of the project will be retained as the project is refined.
“The main features in this north section of the connector will be a new interchange at Patton Avenue, a new bridge over the French Broad River and a new bridge at Broadway Street,” said Nathan Moneyham, NCDOT Division 13 Construction Engineer. “These improvements will address numerous operational issues we all experience when it comes to safety and congestion in this area.”
“Archer-Wright JV is proud to continue our relationship with NCDOT, and we are excited to begin the design-build of a new addition to the vital network of I-26 infrastructure,” said Archer-Wright JV Project Executive Kevin Ott. “We look forward to collaborating with stakeholders, putting shovels in the ground, and ultimately delivering a safe, high-quality project for the Asheville citizens and commuters.”
Click here to read the full press release from the N.C. Department of Transportation.