ADVOCACY
Citizens' Coalition of WAVL
Images courtesy of AIA WNC.
Between 2008-2018, the City of Asheville, local designers, and residents all collaborated on a mutually beneficial design accepted by NCDOT. This design was Alternative 4B, an underpass that enables the reimagination of Patton Ave and the Bowen Bridge to become a safe and enjoyable multimodal corridor between West Asheville and downtown.
In 2024, during procurement, the winning contractor was chosen by submitting a bid that omitted Alternative 4B and instead included a massive 8-lane flyover. The public and City officials first learned of this major design change in 2025.
As a resident and design enthusiast, I'm dismayed by the recent design change and fear the current project will be a $1.2Bn mistake that is undoable once constructed.
As a project manager, I believe it's not too late to reopen discussions and find alternatives that better serve the residents and City of Asheville. In 10 years the negative externalities of poor design that was cheaper to construct will result in project failure. I understand there are budget constraints, but there are creative solutions to consider before we proceed with such a massive investment.
My approach is to be collaborative and cooperative with my peers, neighbors, and all project stakeholders. Please reach out if you would like to have a candid, respectful conversation about the
I-26 Connector project. I welcome feedback and opinions on both designs of the over/under pass.