Not a good time: Drivers, businesses heavily impacted by I-40 weekend closure

Traffic reroute chaos illustration

‘Not a good time:’ Drivers, businesses heavily impacted by I-40 weekend closure

Long reroutes and traffic backups heavily impacted drivers and businesses Saturday, June 8, on Day 2 of the NCDOT’s 4-mile I-40 weekend closure for bridge repair over Hominy Creek — and it wasn’t as simple as just rerouting. For some, it meant lost income.

Drivers Struggle with Traffic Reroutes

Until Monday, June 10, at 6 a.m., a large stretch of I-40 East will continue to remain closed to drivers. The NCDOT has been working with contractors to repair a bridge.

Business Impact

Many drivers felt the impact of the road closure by Saturday, June 9. Teresa Owens had to re-route to get to Asheville from Candler on Saturday. “I got on Monte Vista Road to Sandhill Road, took Sandhill Road, crossed past Hope Hill Presbyterian Church, went back up to Brevard Road, went out to the Arboretum entrance for the parkway and came on over to South Asheville,” she explained.

Loss of Business

Eric Sousa said he lost a client due to the I-40 East closure. “I was driving to work because I had to meet a client and ended up being an hour late to meet that client,” he explained. “I didn’t win the business because they were kind of upset that I was an hour late. It impacted my business; it impacted my workday. I was late coming home to the kids. It was not a good time.”

NCDOT’s Bridge Repair Project

According to the NCDOT official webpage, this is the “second major operation of a $27.9 million interstate rehabilitation project that includes roadway resurfacing and bridge overlays. It will also address spalling concrete on bridge substructure components — including the piers — and improve the riding surface of the four I-40 bridges over Hominy Creek and two bridges over the French Broad River. The contract calls for completion in the spring of 2026.”