Mile-long sidewalk project in West Asheville to start soon, city says

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The City of Asheville is preparing to start a $3 million sidewalk project along Johnston Boulevard in West Asheville.

Crews will construct a mile-long stretch of sidewalk going from Patton Avenue and will end at Iona Circle in front of Johnston Elementary. According to the City of Asheville, this was one of several transportation projects prioritized by city residents during public outreach for the 2016 bond referendum.

“We need a sidewalk. Pedestrians walk that area a lot, and it’s a windy, curvy road between Patton and Bear Creek and Johnston Elementary School,” said Peter Barrett, who lives off Johnston Boulevard.

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He attended a community meeting hosted by the city, where neighbors had the opportunity to ask questions about the project.

Barrett said the 18-month construction project will be inconvenient for neighbors and drivers.

“Luckily, it will only be at most one lane closed in either direction for the 18-month period. It will take some adjusting for all of us who live in this area to find the detours. It will probably increase traffic,” said Barrett.

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Dustin Clemens with the City of Asheville said this project will also construct a new stormwater system, curb and gutter, and will repave this stretch of the roadway where the sidewalks will be.

“Johnston Boulevard is a really narrow roadway. It connects a very busy Patton Avenue corridor to a school. So there’s a real need for a safe pedestrian connection through that area. So this is a project that’s been in planning for a long time,” said Clemens.

The project is expected to start in the next few weeks.