Woodfin Greenway and Blueway
Woodfin Greenway and Blueway
The Woodfin Greenway Project continues to move forward as Buncombe County and project partners adapt plans in response to impacts from Tropical Storm Helene and evolving site conditions. The project will create a multi-use greenway corridor along Riverside Drive (NC 251), improving recreation, connectivity, and transportation options for residents and visitors in the Woodfin area.
The overall project includes approximately 4 miles of greenway extending from Broadway Street north along Riverside Drive to the Woodfin Avenue area. The project is divided into two segments: the EB-5774A segment along Highway 251 and the EB-5774B segment along Beaverdam Creek.
In addition to park expansions, walking trails, and recreation areas, the Woodfin project also includes the Whitewater Wave. This constructed river feature will attract recreational and freestyle kayakers. The Wave's construction design also allows for river-goers, including wildlife, to pass around the feature safely.
Project Overview
Riverside Drive/Highway 251
The Riverside Drive/Highway 251 section of the Woodfin Greenway starts at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Broadway Street and travels down the French Broad River, north to the Metropolitan Sewerage District (MSD) office building at the confluence of the French Broad River and Beaverdam Creek.
After Tropical Storm Helene, the northernmost portion of the Riverside Drive/Highway 251 segment experienced significant streambank erosion and slope instability. In addition, previously considered alignments through nearby properties were determined to be infeasible. After further evaluation with project partners, Buncombe County worked with the French Broad River MPO, NCDOT, and the Town of Woodfin to identify a revised and more feasible project approach.
As part of this effort, the County requested an amendment to revise the northern terminus of the Riverside Drive/Highway 251 segment to the Mill at Riverside property located at 2000 Riverside Drive. The amendment was approved by the French Broad River MPO Board and has been forwarded to the NCDOT Board of Transportation for final consideration. The NCDOT approved the revised project which shortened the overall greenway by approximately 0.41 miles, resulting in a total project length of 3.68 miles.
The removed segment between the Mill at Riverside and Elk Mountain Road will remain identified as a future unfunded connector project. This approach allows the County and the Town of Woodfin additional time to evaluate long-term solutions and pursue future funding opportunities for the remaining connection.
This section of the greenway will be approximately 3 miles of paved, multi-use path.
Status Overview
Prior to Tropical Storm Helene, the 65% design plan sets were submitted and approved by NCDOT for two of the three segments of this section of the greenway. However, the approved 65% designs are being revisited to incorporate changes created by the passing of Helene through the project area.The project management team is also continuing to assess updated construction costs and infrastructure impacts associated with Tropical Storm Helene. Additional engineering and financial analysis will be completed as design progresses to help determine the long-term financial outlook and implementation strategy for the project.
Beaverdam Creek
The Beaverdam Creek section of the Woodfin Greenway goes from the intersection of Riverside Drive and Elk Mountain Road, follows up Beaverdam Creek, eventually crosses under I-26, and terminates along Old Beaverdam Creek Road.
This section of the greenway will be approximately 1.2 miles of paved, multi-use path.
Status Overview
In June 2024, the design team submitted the 25% alignment to NCDOT for review and received approval. After Helene, the design team sought and received approval from NCDOT for costs associated with additional services and will revisit the approved 25% designs to incorporate changes created by Helene's passing through the project area.