2026 Bus Service Changes
Due to I-26 construction.
The NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is permanently closing two I-240 ramps in April and May as part of ongoing construction for the Interstate 26 Connector project.
The entrance ramp from Riverside Drive onto I-240, skirting Hillcrest Apartments, will close at 9 p.m. on April 16, 2026; its counterpart, the off ramp from I-240 onto Hill Street, is scheduled to close at 9 p.m. on April 17, 2026.
As a result of these ramp closures, the city bus routes WE1, WE2, and W5 will detour. Instead of leaving Patton Avenue and using the I-240 ramps to reach Hill Street and Riverside Drive, westbound buses will turn onto Haywood Street at Clingman Avenue; go back East on Haywood, turn north onto Montford Avenue and then take the on-ramp onto I-240 westbound, and continue across the bridge toward Westgate.
The City posted a closure sign at the bus stop on April 2 to give riders advance notice of this change.
Because bus stop number 154, at the bottom of Hill St. at Riverside Dr., will be permanently closed, riders from Hillcrest, Montford, and the Riverside Drive area will access the bus at Atkinson and Hill Street (stop #311). They will then need to take route N3 downtown to the ART Station, and then transfer to their normal route (WE1, WE2, or W5) to go westbound. Route N3 serves the Atkinson/Hill Street stop every 30 minutes, at :05 and :35 each hour.
For the most up-to-date information regarding bus stop closures and detours impacting ART, sign up for iRide email alerts at www.ashevillenc.gov/service/transit-service-alerts. Text 41411, enter “NextART” to receive text service alerts.
For more details on NCDOT’s work, visit www.ncdot.gov/projects.
