Overview

The Swannanoa River Greenway Corridor was prioritized as the City’s number one priority greenway in the GAP Plan. The corridor starts at the intersection of Lyman Street and Amboy Road and ends at the city limits located at Azalea Road and Tunnel Road. At seven and a half miles in length, the project will be broken into phases rather than completed simultaneously.

This video provides a more detailed explanation of Swannanoa River Greenway Project.

 


Happening Now

The City of Asheville’s Transportation Bond project will begin construction of the first phase of the Swannanoa River Greenway. It will begin at Glendale Rd and Thompson Street intersection and will be an off-road greenway, a little over one mile in length ending at the WalMart on Bleachery Avenue. Construction will begin this year, 2024, and it is estimated to take 12 months to finish.

 


Background

In 2018, The City of Asheville conducted two studies on different segments of the Swannanoa River Greenway.

Swannanoa River Greenway Phase 1 was a feasibility study and greenway corridor design on the eastern of the greenway from the eastern end of Thompson Street and Glendale Avenue, to the City of Asheville’s park complex with the Nature Center, the Recreation Park and the JB Lewis Soccer Fields.

Swannanoa River Greenway Phase 2 was a corridor study, funded through the NCDOTs Bike and Pedestrian Mini-Grant Program for the section of the greenway that starts at Biltmore Avenue and ends at the end of Thompson Street at Glendale Ave. This was a planning study that did not include engineering and design in the scope of work.

 


Supporting Documents

The City of Asheville Close the GAP Plan

The City of Asheville 2013 Greenway Master Plan

The Buncombe County Greenway Master Plan

The Hellbender Regional Trail Plan

The Fonta Flora State Trail

 


Timeline

October 2020 – Base work

December 2020 – 30% Design

June 2021 – Hydraulic Design

August 2021 – 65% Design

September 2021 – Public Meeting

November 2021 – 90% Design

June 2023 – 100% Construction Documents

Summer 2023 – Construction Bidding

TBD 2024 – Anticipated construction start for first phase

 


Contact Information

Lucy Crown, Greenway Planner

Jade Dundas, Capital Project Director

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Related Departments

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Transportation

The City of Asheville’s Transportation Department is dedicated to providing for the safety, health, mobility, and quality of life for Asheville citizens and guests through the administration of engineering, infrastructure and transportation related projects.

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