WINSTON-SALEM—State transportation leaders have been making plans to improve Business 40 in Winston-Salem for more than a decade now, and are one step closer to kicking off construction.
DOT leaders say the general public won't notice the design phase of the Business 40 improvement project for the next year or so.
"This project is selected as a design-build project, which means design was not complete,” explained Jason Mroz with Flatiron Construction. “Only about 20% design is complete at this point, so there is a significant period of time where we have to create plans with DOT and have them reviewed before construction starts."
"There will basically be design work, utility coordination and property aquisition,” said NCDOT division engineer Pat Ivey.
Once design is complete, the second phase and year of construction will begin.
"Which is widening and reconstruction of Peters Creek Parkway,” Mroz said. “Before we do the Business 40 shutdown, we have to complete that work to maxmize traffic flow in the area."
The third and final phase—a 21-month shut down of Business 40—is scheduled to begin a year after the work on Peters Creek Parkway is complete.
The DOT is planning detours now.
"If you're going to be on 52 or I-40, you might need to plan an additional 30 minutes if you're coming into downtown or trying to get into Winston-Salem,” Ivey said. “We've got two years before the closure, but we have a lot to do between now and then."
Part of the project includes workers removing and replacing highway pavement and ramps, replacing bridges and improving on and off ramps.
Changes, leaders say, will make this a much safer stretch of road, and folks who live here are looking forward to the improvements.
"The changes to infrastructure are definitely needed,” said Winston-Salem resident, Christopher Robinson.
The DOT has a website set up to update drivers and pedestrians with the latest information on the project: http://www.business40nc.com/