A Southside connectivity improvement project

Overview

This project will install speed cushions and bicycle “sharrows” on Depot Street. On the Southside Avenue and Short Coxe Avenue sections within the project area, the existing sidewalk will be widened to 10 feet to become a multi-use path. “Sharrow” pavement markings will be installed on Short Coxe as reminders that bicyclists are also allowed to use the road.

The purpose of the project is to increase safety for all users of these streets and to create connectivity in Asheville’s greenway network for recreation and transportation use. Specifically, these improvements will connect the future Bacoate Branch Greenway and Nasty Branch Greenway (as well as the greenways along the French Broad River in the River Arts District) to the future Beaucatcher Greenway on Beaucatcher Mountain above Memorial Stadium and McCormick Field. The improvements also provide a safe route to the South Slope area and connection to downtown.


Happening Now

The construction contract for this project was approved by City Council at their August 27, 2024 meeting. 

Next Milestone: Construction kickoff in late 2024


Background

This project includes on-road improvements in two project areas for bike and pedestrian safety and wayfinding. The objective of this project is to connect greenways in the project area and provide safe passage for pedestrians and bicyclists from one greenway trailhead to another.

This project is essentially two projects on each side of the future Nasty Branch Greenway located in the Southside neighborhood:

  1. From the eastern trailhead of the Nasty Branch Greenway on the corner of Phifer Street and McDowell Avenue through Southside Avenue, Short Coxe Avenue, Biltmore Avenue, and Buchanan Avenue, ending at the parking lot of Memorial Stadium. 
  2. From the western trailhead of Nasty Branch Greenway on Depot Street just south of the Dr. Wesley Grant Center to the southern trailhead of the Bacoate Branch Greenway on Clingman Extension. An extension of the connector way-finding system will be applied from Depot Street to Riverside Drive on Lyman Street.

 

This video provides a more detailed explanation of the greenway connector initiative. (Construction timelines have changed since the creation of the video.)


Funding

This project is funded in part by the voter-approved 2016 bond initiative. Additionally, this project has received grant funding from the Federal Highway Administration via the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), which is administered by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. 


Related Projects


Timeline

2023
Design and easement acquisition 

Public outreach: neighborhood walking tours

December 2023 walking tour with City staff, Southside United Neighborhood Association, City Council, and Multimodal Transportation Commission

2024 

Bidding for construction

Anticipated construction start in late 2024

2025 

Anticipated project completion 


Contact 

Lucy Crown, Transportation Planning Manager

Susannah Horton, Project Manager

Related Services

Learn how to safely and securely bicycle in Asheville

Business Inclusion (ABI)

The Business Inclusion Office for the City of Asheville actively seeks to identify minority and women-owned businesses for an opportunity to participate as providers of goods and services to the city.

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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Capital Management

The Capital Management Department (CMD) plans, budgets, designs and manages projects as well as maintains existing public facilities. CMD is made of two divisions: Capital Projects and Public Facilities Management. The Capital Projects team manages major construction projects including building renovations, parks and playgrounds, as well as transportation infrastructure. The Public Facilities Management [...]

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