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.
North Carolina has landed what is seemingly the final major piece of its frontcourt for the 2026-27 season, multiple sources have confirmed. Alexandros Samodurov announced his commitment to the Tar Heels on Saturday by way of Jonathan Givony of Draft Express.
The 6-foot-11 Greek native will bring international experience and an advanced skillset to a UNC program that was still looking to add a starting-worthy big man to its rotation. He’ll join 18-year-old 7-footer Sayon Keita, who committed to UNC a month ago, to man most of the minutes in the middle.
Now 21 years old, Samodurov plays for Panathinaikos in Greece’s top pro league, and also in EuroLeague. This is the same professional club as fellow Greece national team standout and UNC transfer commitment Neoklis Avdalas.
Samodurov earned All-Star honors with the Greece U20 National Team last summer, averaging 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.4 blocks at the FIBA U20 Eurobasket. He also averaged 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds playing for the Greece Senior National Team last year.
>>> Expert Analysis: Samodurov Addition All About Stretch Big Skill Set for UNC
“The Panathinaikos forward has always been an intriguing prospect with his combination of elite size, ball-handling ability and flashes of passing, shooting and defensive playmaking,” said a FIBA report from the Eurobasket event.
Samodurov declared for the NBA Draft but the league announced on May 28 that he had withdrawn his name. He was ranked the No. 41 draft prospect in The Athletic’s Mock Draft and is No. 72 on ESPN’s Big Board.
New coach Michael Malone has been tasked over the past two months with overhauling the roster. Samodurov marks the seventh program acquisition, joining two previously committed high schoolers, and three returning players to form the 2026-27 roster.
Whether Samodurov or Keita start at center remains to be seen, but the other members of the starting lineup when UNC’s season opens in six months on Nov. 2 are expected to be Utah transfer Terrence Brown, NC State transfer Matt Able, Virginia Tech transfer Avdalas and returning forward Jarin Stevenson.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. — A Murphy, North Carolina man with prior felony convictions was sentenced this week after authorities say he was caught with a large cache of illegal drugs and firearms.
44-year-old John Anthony Barreiro of Murphy was sentenced Thursday to 22 years in prison and ordered to serve five years of supervised release, according to an announcement from Russ Ferguson, U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Authorities say Barreiro illegally possessed 15 firearms along with more than 1,600 fentanyl pills and more than 800 grams of methamphetamine and cocaine.
According to court documents, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop of Barreiro’s vehicle on Dec. 4th, 2023.
Authorities say Barreiro fled instead of stopping, leading to a vehicle pursuit.
Court documents show that during the chase, Barreiro threw a Glock 9mm pistol out of the passenger-side window.
Authorities say he later threw a bag out of the same window containing more than 300 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl tablets, fentanyl powder and cocaine.
Law enforcement later recovered the firearm and the drugs, according to court records.
After throwing the gun and drugs from the vehicle, authorities say Barreiro pulled over and was arrested.
Investigators say they found additional clear baggies with suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in the vehicle and on Barreiro.
Authorities also say Barreiro had $7,840 in cash, marijuana, a loaded Glock 30-round capacity magazine and a bag containing multiple loose rounds of 9mm ammunition in the vehicle.
Later the same day, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a Murphy home where Barreiro was known to reside.
Law enforcement seized 14 firearms, 1,450 fentanyl tablets, fentanyl powder, cocaine and almost 500 grams of methamphetamine, authorities say.
Barreiro had prior convictions that prohibited him from possessing firearms.
Barreiro pleaded guilty on Sept. 26th to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
He was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison on Thursday.
Barreiro remains in federal custody until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
North Carolina
Families in Durham say they’re barely getting by; New report says Americans are saving less
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — With the price of gas, groceries and housing continuing to climb, many who live in Durham say there’s not much left over to put away at the end of the month.
Samuel Fisher was filling up his daughter’s car at a Durham gas station when he admitted he’s had to get creative to stretch his budget. “We haven’t saved. We’re not rich,” he said. “We were saving a few hundred dollars here and there.”
Fisher said he’s now driving his daughter’s smaller car while she’s on vacation because it’s cheaper to fill up than his SUV. “It costs me 90 dollars to fill up,” he said with a laugh. “She’s not here, so I’m going to drive her car. Save some money.”
For others, cutting back has become a daily routine. Anne McConville said everything she was wearing came from a thrift store. “Black jumpsuit, black top and this necklace that was only three dollars,” she said. “It’s beautiful.”
McConville said shopping secondhand helps her afford the basics. “Every time I go shopping, I spend 100 dollars. For me. I just buy produce.”
A new federal report shows Americans are saving less overall. The U.S. personal savings rate fell to 2.6 percent in April, a sign that rising costs for essentials are squeezing household budgets.
Arkell Barnes, a Triangle-based financial advisor for the past 30 years, said even small amounts of savings matter. “I always recommend people put something away no matter what. Pay yourself first,” he said.
Barnes said finding small ways to cut costs can help families build a cushion. “Refinancing, taking meals to work instead of going out, watching your subscriptions,” he said.
It’s advice 79-year-old Jerry McClain is already following. Pushing a cart of groceries to his car, he said he’s scaled back his spending. “I’m older, so I don’t do as much,” McClain said. “I don’t go out as much. I don’t eat out as much.”
Barnes said more people are also picking up side jobs to bring in extra income. It’s something he believes could help boost savings in the long run.
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