I-26 Alternate 4B
Below, see two views (one aerial and one from street level) of what Patton 'Boulevard' could look like 'before and after':

The following is a rendering by Hamilton Cort of the Design Center's modification:

asheville_connector_hcourt

A photograph of the model that can be seen at the Design Center:

model_photo2

 

ADC advocates Alternative 4B because it would:

  • remove all interstate traffic (I-26 and I-240) from the Smoky Park Bridge
  • transform Patton Avenue/Smoky Park Bridge into a boulevard with pedestrian, bicycle and transit options
  • reclaim surplus right-of-way for new urban development along Patton Avenue
  • provide a place for downtown to grow as recommended in the 2025 plan
  • Increase City and County tax bases
  • Take less land than any other alternative
  • Directly access the proposed Wilma Dykeman RiverLink Plan

 

While ADC advocates Alternative 4B, it does not support some of the design change that were made in 2008 by Figg Engineers in response to NCDOT's comments.  ADC addressed those issues and others in an October 2008 letter to NCDOT.

In an Oct. 2009 meeting between NCDOT and the Technical Review Committee (City of Asheville, Buncombe County, and ADC) DOT addressed one important design issue.  The 2008 version of Alternative 4B showed I-26 crossing over I-26 in West Asheville.  This would have a negative visual impact, and would detract from the urban boulevard that the community hopes to see fro the future Patton Avenue.  NCDOT has now developed an alignment with I-26 passing under Patton Avenue; this would be less expensive than the over-Patton option by about $13 million.  DOT plans to include the under-Patton option in the SDEIS, and may drop the over-Patton option.

Other design changes for Alternative 4B are being studied by NCDOT and by ADC, in coordination with neighborhood groups.  These include:  reducing the length of elevated structure along the US 23/70 alignment west of Montford; reducing the impact on the Hill Street neighborhood; and improving the aesthetics of the river crossing.

For more information, please see the March 2010 Alternate 4B Community-Based Design Update.