What's the status of the Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over I-26? Officials share updates

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Construction for the new Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over Interstate 26 in Buncombe County is now well underway.

The three-phase project began with the building of the first of two piers (columns) on the east side of the interstate. The column rises 90 feet into the air and will support the roadway, which will rise a total of 110 feet above the interstate below.

The new bridge was needed because of the I-26 widening project. The multiple support columns on the old bridge stand in the way of the new lanes that will come with the widening project.

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The bridge is being constructed in segments that connect, much like a giant Lego project, extending the bridge, piece by piece, in both directions from the established pier. Because of this, engineers do not expect that I-26 will be shut down in either direction at any point in the build.

Once the east side of the bridge is completed, the second phase will begin with the building of a second pier on the west side of the interstate. Once completed, and the two sides are joined, the old bridge will be dismantled, making way for the new I-26 highway lanes.

Though there is no definite completion date, based on the current speed of the build, engineers expect the project to be completed by April 2023. The new bridge is expected to have a significantly longer lifespan than the old bridge and to require less maintenance.

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The long-term benefits of the new bridge aren’t lost on any of the project team, either.

“What I’m doing is going to benefit people for years to come,” says Tucker Sees, one builder on the project. “It’s going to affect anybody and everybody that’s going to drive through the area. It’s always rewarding.”