North Carolina
Asheville I-26 Connector contract the ‘largest’ in NC history; What about local companies?
ASHEVILLE – The $1.15 billion final contract for the I-26 Connector project is the largest contract awarded in the state’s history, according to a North Carolina Department of Transportation engineer presentation on the project May 17.
NCDOT Engineer Nathan Moneyham spoke about the scale of the project and contract during the May 17 French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting, stating it was the largest awarded in the states history.
Of the three proposed designs for I-26’s Section B, which runs from Haywood Road in West Asheville and crosses the French Broad to connect to U.S. 19/23/70 and U.S. 240, contractor Archer-Wright Joint Venture’s $1.15 billion design was selected May 15 for the project. The section also includes improvements to Riverside Drive.
The FBRMPO is a partnership between local and state government that makes transportation planning decisions and meets planning requirements established by federal legislation for transportation funding, according to the FBRMPO website. The federally-mandated organization was created in 1962.
The NCDOT Design-Build process happens in two stages, according to the NCDOT website. First, NCDOT creates a shortlist of contractors based on contract applications. After that, NCDOT engineers determine the “best value” proposal by evaluating designs.
Other recent design-build contracts include a $242 million contract for a US-70 expansion in Craven County, a $287 million contract for a new freeway in Wake County and a $53 million upgrade to U.S. 70 in Cleveland County, according to the NCDOT website.
During the meeting, city councilmember Kim Roney asked how different neighborhoods, like the Burton Street neighborhood — a historically Black West Asheville neighborhood, which can expect major changes from the I-26 Connector project — might see long-term positive impacts from hiring local minority and women-owned contracting companies in the record setting project.
NCDOT engineers have separated some elements of the I-26 project out of the larger contract, which might be done by smaller local contractors, Moneyham said.
“If you’ve got a local contractor who’s small, just getting started — working with a company like [Archer Western] is intimidating,” Moneyham said. “So, we’ve tried to pull out smaller pieces of work, especially in the areas adjacent to those neighborhoods, where we can let smaller contracts.”
‘Optimization and refinement’
The I-26 Connector project has been in the pipeline for over 30 years, with local businesses, neighborhoods and the city of Asheville anticipating NCDOT to make way for the expansive project despite it facing multiple, long-term funding setbacks.
Funding setbacks could still be a problem for the project.
Because all bids came in above estimated cost of the project, NCDOT developed a new “Optimization and Refinement” process to ensure the project moves forward after the high bids indicated “it was in significant danger of, again, taking another round of significant delays,” Moneyham said during the meeting.
The additional I-26 Connector Design-Build process also came with technical modifications and a proposed, secondary “adjusted bid” price of $846 million, which was significantly lower than Archer-Wright’s $1.15 billion actual bid.
The over $300 million difference between the adjusted price and actual bid was the result of the new optimization process. The process will continue over the next six-months, as NCDOT works directly with Archer-Wright Joint Venture to reduce cost “to get it down to the point we can fully fund and begin construction,” Moneyham said.
“We’re not looking to undo anything,” Moneyham said regarding I-26 Connector commitments. “But our main focus is to reduce the cost by looking for construction inefficiencies we can correct.”
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Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Sunday, April 19, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 6-2-0, Fireball: 6
Evening: 4-1-7, Fireball: 5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 7-6-9-4, Fireball: 4
Evening: 8-1-5-6, Fireball: 6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
02-21-32-35-37
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Double Play numbers from April 19 drawing
18-26-27-31-42
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:
- Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
- Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.
When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
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