HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Trail users in Henderson County should prepare for a temporary disruption this summer as construction on the U.S. 64 modernization project closes part of the Ecusta Trail.
The N.C. Department of Transportation said the trail will be closed where it crosses White Pine Drive from July 6 through Aug. 5 while crews build a roundabout and raise the trail to match the elevation of the improved roadway.
Officials say there will be no pedestrian or bicycle detour around the closure because they could not identify a route that would safely separate trail users from vehicle traffic.
The closure affects only the White Pine Drive crossing. The rest of the Ecusta Trail will remain open and accessible from either side of the construction zone, although users will not be able to travel the trail’s full length during the work.
A second closure is planned this fall at the Daniel Drive crossing. NCDOT expects that work to last about 30 to 40 days, with exact dates to be announced once construction at White Pine Drive is complete.
The closures are tied to NCDOT’s long-planned U.S. 64 modernization project between White Pine Drive in Laurel Park and Blythe Street in Hendersonville. The project has been in development for more than a decade and is designed to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and enhance safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
In addition to constructing roundabouts at White Pine Drive and Daniel Drive, crews will rebuild portions of the trail at a slightly higher elevation and improve both trail crossings.
“We were excited to help develop the Ecusta Trail, and have the same enthusiasm for U.S. 64 improvements,” NCDOT Division 14 Engineer Wesley Grindstaff said in a statement. “We have worked with Henderson County and other stakeholders to consider various options to minimize the impacts of these closures. We all feel the best move forward is to complete all the trail work in two operations instead of multiple short-term closures.”
Friends of the Ecusta Trail acknowledged the temporary inconvenience but said the work will ultimately improve the highway and the trail crossings.
Construction preparation is already underway, and trail users can expect to see heavy equipment and occasional one-lane trail access in the area before the full closure begins.
After the White Pine Drive crossing reopens, road construction is expected to continue for up to another 35 days while crews complete the roundabout and raise White Pine Drive to the same elevation as U.S. 64 and the trail. U.S. 64 will remain open during construction with intermittent lane closures.
The Ecusta Trail opened in 2025 and quickly became a popular destination for walkers, runners and cyclists. State officials say it has welcomed more than 7,000 users while serving as a collaborative project involving local governments, nonprofit organizations and community volunteers.
What trail users need to know
- Closure begins: July 6
- Expected reopening: Aug. 5
- Location: White Pine Drive crossing on the Ecusta Trail
- Detour: None available for pedestrians or cyclists
- Trail status: Open on both sides of the construction zone, but users cannot pass through the work area
- What’s being built: A new roundabout and improved trail crossing as part of the U.S. 64 modernization project
- What’s next: A similar closure is planned this fall at Daniel Drive, with dates to be announced.
