Hendersonville outlines $5.3 million Clear Creek Greenway build plan, construction to start in phases

City engineer Hunter Shanahan updated the Hendersonville City Council on July 2 about the Clear Creek Greenway’s move from design to construction, describing a multi-phase build meant to connect neighborhoods east of I-26 with downtown greenway segments.

Shanahan said engineering, design and permitting cost about $800,000, while construction and administration are estimated at roughly $4.5 million. NHM Constructors was awarded the contract in May; the city plans to complete the western portion to the I-26 corridor by fall 2026 and finish the remainder in spring 2027. “This project was designed to connect communities eastward of the city’s greenway system and will serve over 1,000 residences,” Shanahan said.

Shanahan described challenges and mitigations: anticipated material lead times, the need to sequence work around environmental crossings (Mud Creek and Allen Branch), and design adjustments that could affect timelines. Funding is drawn from multiple grant sources, he said, with the lion’s share coming as federal allocations through North Carolina Department of Transportation programs, plus support from the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and other trail donors.

Representatives of local nonprofits and user groups—Katie Breckheimer (Friends of the Ocklawaha Greenway), Laura Rice (Friends of the Trail) and Joe Sanders (Blue Ridge Bicycle Club)—announced donations and volunteer commitments and thanked the city for supporting connectivity and wildlife habitat protection.

Shanahan indicated staff will monitor design changes closely to avoid schedule delays and coordinate with partner agencies and contractors as construction begins.