Asheville City Council unanimously approved the $256.36 million budget for the fiscal year 2026 at their regular meeting on June 10. The spending plan includes a robust Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that focuses on storm recovery, parks, transportation, public safety and community infrastructure over the next five years. Projects are selected for funding in the CIP based on several criteria including: enhancing core services, supporting strategic priorities, availability of outside funding sources, potential return on investment, and extending the useful life of City assets.
With storm recovery and the 2024 voter-approved $80 million General Obligation (GO) Bond now integrated as key infrastructure priorities, the City of Asheville is steadily progressing on its project commitments and remains dedicated to preparing for future evolving needs in order to strengthen Asheville’s infrastructure and economic stability.
Storm Recovery
The City has kicked off several major recovery projects with a focus on comprehensive restoration of City-owned infrastructure along the riverfronts. Concurrently, the City continues to accomplish smaller projects to repair damage and reopen amenities where manageable. Cost recovery through FEMA’s Public Assistance program will be the primary source of funding enabling the City to rebuild public infrastructure. The City began official damage assessments with FEMA in early 2025, and that process continues to make headway. Other potential federal funding sources for infrastructure recovery projects include the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery program, and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Adopted 2024 Bond Referenda
In November 2024, Asheville voters approved four General Obligation Bond Referendums totaling $80 million. The 2025 calendar year is marked by the kick off of several of these Bond projects, which will make improvements to parks and recreation, transportation, public safety and affordable housing.
Mid-Year Infrastructure Update 2025 Photo Gallery
Read on to learn about infrastructure improvements throughout the community so far in 2025 and to find out what’s in store for the upcoming fiscal year.
Note: The projects highlighted in this article offer a glimpse into key milestones, but they don’t represent every active City project or imply a ranking of importance.
Projects completed so far in 2025:
- Azalea Road temporary road and traffic signal, restored access to the Gashes Creek neighborhood and WNC Nature Center
- Patton Avenue Sidewalk and Accessibility Improvements
- Roger Farmer Park Sport Court Improvements
Construction kicked off so far in 2025:
- New Haw Creek Sidewalk
- Roof Replacement at 29 Haywood Street
- Roof Replacements at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium and Municipal Building (Storm Recovery)
- Burton Street Community Center Playground and Outdoor Improvements
- Old Toll Road Landslide Recovery Project
Construction to start in 2025:
- Airport Road Sidewalk
- Johnston Boulevard Sidewalk
- Municipal Building Structural Repairs
- Parking Garage High Priority Improvements
- Shiloh Bus Shelter
- Shiloh Park Culvert Lining
- W. Patton Avenue Sidewalk
- Weaver Park Trail, Ballfield and Playground Improvements
- 12.3 miles of roadway planned to be resurfaced, roughly 2.6 miles of which are GO Bond funded*
- Small waterline replacement projects – citywide, ongoing
Projects to enter design phase in 2025/2026:
- Azalea Parks and Infrastructure Recovery
- Biltmore Village Lighting Recovery
- French Broad Riverfront Parks Recovery
- Boosting the Block
- Lexington Avenue Sidewalk Improvements*
- Livingston Street Improvements
- London Road Sidewalk Improvements*
- Malvern Hills Park Pool*
- Municipal Golf Course Front 9 Restoration
- Oakley Public Safety Complex*
- Reed Creek Greenway Northern Extension*
- Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center Upgrades*
- Walton Street Park*
- Permanent pretreatment systems at North Fork and DeBruhl water treatment plants – Helene Recovery
- Alternate bypass at North Fork water treatment plant – Helene Recovery
- Small waterline replacement projects – citywide, ongoing
- 31 sidewalk ramps planned to be updated or installed to meet ADA compliance
- Public Works E-Building Culvert Lining
Other milestones so far in 2025:
- Coxe Avenue Complete Street Open House
- Ribbon Cutting for Memorial Stadium Phase 2
- McCormick Field construction is on track and 2025 Tourists season is live
- WNC Nature Center Gateway to the Appalachians project nears completion
- Carter-Ann-Patton Stormwater Improvements project nears completion
- Nasty Branch Greenway has entered the review phase with North Carolina Department of Transportation; construction start planned for 2026
- 289 potholes were filled on City streets by Public Works crews
- 15 sinkholes were repaired on City streets by Public Works crews
- 11 sidewalk ramps were added or updated to meet ADA compliance
Stay informed & provide input
- Watch a presentation on infrastructure investments from the City Council Meeting on June 10, 2025, listed on the agenda under Manager’s Report.
- Track project spending and progress on the Capital Projects Spending Dashboard.
- Subscribe for updates on individual projects by visiting project pages.
*projects with an asterisk(*) are 2024 voter-approved general obligation bond projects.