Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over I-26 to be replaced

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Interstate 26 is perhaps the busiest road in the mountains--and the Blue Ridge Parkway the most scenic.

Officials from both have reached an agreement on a major project that's all about a new bridge.

The project centers on the decades-long effort to widen I-26 and dealing with some of the infrastructure in the way. In the case of the Parkway bridge that spans the interstate, officials said a remake is the only way to go.

"It's a piece of the puzzle, part of the I-26 widening project," NCDOT Division Construction Engineer Randy McKinney said, referring to a 22-mile-long puzzle and the effort to ease interstate congestion.

"Actually, I don't think people really realize that there is going to be a very large bridge that's going to be replaced in the construction of I-26, that actually carries the Parkway," McKinney said.

An artist's rendering shows the standard columns have been replaced by a wider design, leaving more room below for widening I-26. The arch-like structure above is considered more aesthetically compatible with the Parkway.

But even as it's being built, tourists and locals will still come to the Parkway, expecting to get through. That's when the DOT and the term "puzzle" become key.

"The Parkway bridge will be built on a new location, just to the south of the existing bridge that's up there, which allows the Parkway to remain open while we build the piece of the puzzle that's the Parkway," McKinney said.

McKinney said there will be some cones put out at times, and some traffic delays, but a closure will not be necessary.

"It'll be open, they'll be able to traverse through. Just the scenery will change a little bit," McKinney said.

For cyclist Matt Clark, who bikes 10 miles on the parkway every day, closures are the only concern.

"As long as I can keep riding over it, as long as it's open during construction, yeah," Clark said.

Parkway officials said road realignment with the new bridge brings another benefit -- room to add parking for people who use the popular Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

It's too early for any timetable, but DOT officials are expected to announce more details sometime this spring.