ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — As construction continues on the Interstate 26 Connector project along the French Broad River, Riverside Cemetery, a nearby historic graveyard, will not be impacted, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

The I-26 Connector project officially broke ground in April 2026 after decades of planning. When completed, the seven-mile freeway will link I-26 in southwest Asheville with U.S. 19/23/70 in northwest Asheville. Currently, the project is on track to be finished by late 2031.

Work on the I-26 Connector is underway across Asheville, including on land claimed by the NCDOT for the project. In West Asheville, for instance, interstate exits have been closed and buildings have been slated for demolition.

Riverside Cemetery, however, will not be subject to similar changes, despite its proximity to the project. The cemetery is located immediately across I-26 from an NCDOT construction site on Riverside Drive.

“The I-26 Connector project will not impact Riverside Cemetery land. All work along the cemetery will stay within existing NCDOT right-of-way limits, so no cemetery property or graves will be impacted or relocated,” explained Stephanie Johnson, NCDOT communications officer.

For Asheville residents curious about I-26 Connector progress on Riverside Drive, construction work can be observed from several vantage points in Riverside Cemetery.

The NCDOT also maintains Projects Near Me, an online map of transportation projects that can be used to find information about ongoing work in the Asheville area. Find more information at www.ncdot.gov/projects/ProjectsNearMe.

Related reporting:

• I-26 Connector: French Broad River construction begins
• I-26 Connector project: 3rd-generation Burton Street resident shares concerns about community’s future
• I-26 Connector update: NCDOT answers reader questions