Alternative 4-B

I-26 Connector May Affect West Asheville Community

The I-26 connector is slated to join “Malfunction Junction” corridor in West Asheville to downtown Asheville. The connector project will create a new highway crossing the French Broad River (Smoky Park Bridge), widening Interstate 240 in West Asheville, and changing the configuration of the I-26/I-40/I-240 interchange, known as “Malfunction Junction.”

Asheville City Council has already endorsed Plan 4b. Plan “4b” would disrupt less land and would not displace local residents.

An alternative plan (Plan 3), would potentially demolish about 61 homes to include 25 of those in the predominantly African American neighborhood of Burton Street in West Asheville.

In a 3-2 vote, Buncombe County commissioners on January 6, 2009 voted for the route known as Alternative 3 for the Interstate 26 Connector route through Asheville. Alternative 3, a plan backed by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce would speed up the flow of traffic, but displace homeowners and residents in this area. Other houses in the affected area will be facing a sound barrier wall. Commissioners Bill Stanley, Carol Peterson and K. Ray Bailey voted for Alternative 3, while board Chairman David Gantt and commissioner Holly Jones voted against it.

Many property owners have been advised to “take care of their homes” in order to receive a fair price for their property. But, will it be a “fair market price” enabling these property owners to purchase a home elsewhere in this area?

Construction on the connector is slated to begin in 2013.