NCDOT: Winston Salem Northern Beltway

Right of Way Schedules Delayed Because of Lawsuit

In mid-August, 2008, another lawsuit was filed against the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway project challenging the Federal Highway Administration's and NCDOT’s compliance with the National and State Environmental Policy Acts. (NCDOT was served with the lawsuit on August 21, 2008.) NCDOT has suspended all right of way acquisition indefinitely. So far, this has affected the schedule for TIP Project U-2579B (from Business 40/US 421 to US 158), which was scheduled for right of way acquisition to begin in September 2008. It will also affect the schedule for U-2579C (from US 158 to US 311), which is scheduled for right of way acquisition to begin in May 2009, and it will likely affect the right of way acquisition schedule for U-2579AB (from 40 Business/US 421 to I-40), currently scheduled to begin in December 2009. No construction schedules have been affected thus far.

In September 15, 2008, a letter was sent to property owners in the U-2579B project to announce the delays. Click here to see that letter.

How Long Will the Delay Be?

A scheduling order has been filed with the courts that establishes deadlines for various filings related to this lawsuit. According to this scheduling order, the last item will have been filed by September 2009. At that time, the court will have what it needs to rule. There is no estimate of how long a ruling will take.

Eastern Section Corridor Now Protected

On November 26, 2008, a corridor protection map for the Eastern Section of the Beltway (from US 52 to US 311) went into effect. Building now is restricted in the corridor in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 136-44, Article 2E. To view the Transportation Corridor Official Map, which shows the protected corridor, click here.

2008 Public Hearing Maps

The 2008 hearing maps for the Eastern Section of the Beltway are available. These maps consist of the Design Public Hearing Map for the Eastern Section Extension (U-2579A) and the proposed Transportation Corridor Official Map for the entire Eastern Section (U-2579 and U-2579A). The maps show the latest preliminary design on the Eastern Section and Extension, from US 52 to US 311.

2008 Project Maps

July 2008 Newsletter

August 2008 Public Hearing Handout

The 2004 project maps for the Western Section have not changed, but are still available on this site under our archive section.

Record Of Decision

The Record of Decision (ROD) responds to comments on the Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement/Final Environmental Impact Statement (SFEIS/FEIS) and marks the conclusion of the project's environmental studies. The ROD was approved in February 2008.

Appendices

For more News & Updates please visit our archive section. Additional public meetings will be scheduled for Spring/Summer 2008. Please check back for announcements.

Why is this project necessary?

Project Overview

The Winston-Salem Northern Beltway is a proposed multi-lane freeway facility on new location around the northern portion of Winston-Salem. The project begins at US 158 southwest of the City and ends at US 311 southeast of the City. The project passes through the municipalities of Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Walkertown, and Tobaccoville. It is adjacent to or near the municipalities of Rural Hall, Bethania, Clemmons, and Lewisville. The total length of the project is 34.2 miles. Environmental studies for the project are complete, and design is underway. Click here to see a map of the Selected Alternative.

The section of the Beltway from US 158 southwest of the City to US 52 north of the City is the "Western Section," or TIP Project R-2247. The section of the Beltway from US 52 north of the City to US 421/Business 40 east of the City is the "Eastern Section," or TIP Project U-2579. The section of the Beltway from US 421/Business 40 to US 311 southeast of the City is the "Eastern Section Extension," or TIP Project U-2579A.

The Northern Beltway is consistent with state and local land use and transportation plans, and is consistent with the North Carolina Highway Trust Fund Act. The Highway Trust Fund Act, enacted in 1989 and amended in subsequent years, establishes a funding stream for urban loops. Included in the law as an urban loop is a multi-lane facility around Winston-Salem on new location from I-40 west of Winston- Salem around the northern portion of Winston-Salem to US 311 in eastern Forsyth County. This Act allocated highway funds to various portions of the state with an objective of providing equitable distribution. Urban loop freeways were included in the Act originally for seven major cities in North Carolina, including Winston-Salem, although additional loops have been added since.

Summary of Purpose

The purpose for building the entire Northern Beltway includes the following:

Improve roadway connectivity in eastern and western Forsyth County
Provide congestion relief for area roadways
Expand options for regional/intrastate/interstate travel
Help meet the state and local land use and transportation plans
Help fulfill the Highway Trust Fund Act

Eastern Section (TIP Projects U-2579 & U2579A)

Construction of this Northern Beltway section will meet these key points:

Improve intrastate and interstate mobility
Improve roadway system linkage and continuity
Reduce traffic congestion and carry future traffic at a desirable level of service
Enhance safety
Provide a corridor for I-74 (a congressionally designated High Priority Corridor on the National Highway System)

Western Section (TIP Project R-2247)

Construction of this Northern Beltway section will meet these key points:

Improve north/south connectivity in western Forsyth County
Provide improved direct connections to US 52, US 421 and I-40
Provide congestion relief for area roadways

Project Highlights:

Project Schedule

Combined Project Schedule

To view detailed information about specific sections of TIP Projects R-2247, U-2579, U-2579A (including schedule and costs for right of way and construction), please see the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Document From this page, you can find Projects U-2579 (including U-2579A) on page 9-19 and Project R-2247 on page 9-16.

Project History

Combined Project History (TIP Projects R-2247, U-2579, & U-2579A)

In November 2001, the NCDOT and Federal Highway Administration decided to combine the environmental documents for the Western Section, the Eastern Section and the Eastern Section Extension. The Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement for Project R-2247/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Project U-2579 & U-2579A (SFEIS/SDEIS) was published in October 2004, and public workshops and meetings were held.

A Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement for Project R-2247/Final Environmental Impact Statement for Project U-2579 & U-2579A (SFEIS/FEIS) was published in January 2007.

The FHWA-approved Record of Decision (ROD) marks the conclusion of the project's environmental studies. The ROD is posted on this site. Additional public meetings are anticipated in Spring of 2008. Notification will be sent to those on the mailing list and also will be advertised in local media. Click here to get on the mailing list.

Eastern Section History (TIP Projects U-2579 & U-2579A)

In the early 1990’s, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) evaluated in detail several options for relieving congestion in eastern Forsyth County.

Among these original options were ten corridors for a multi-lane freeway on new location from US 158 west of Winston-Salem to US 421/I-40 Business east of Winston-Salem. These options were presented at public hearings and workshops in 1995. It was one of these new location corridors that was selected in 1996 as the Preferred Alternative. This corridor is known as the Preferred Alternative for the Eastern Section of the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway.

The Eastern Section has been designated by the Federal Highway Administration as the future new Interstate 74. This highway will enter North Carolina along US 52 in the north and run through eastern Forsyth County before continuing down US 220 to South Carolina. Though the Preferred Alternative of the Eastern Section extends from US 52 in the north to US 421/I-40 Business in the east, a “gap” remained between US 421/I-40 Business and US 311.

The NCDOT added the Eastern Section Extension not only to provide this missing section of I-74 but also to reduce traffic congestion and enhance safety along other major streets within Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Six alternatives were studied in detail for the Eastern Section Extension.

Western Section History (TIP Project R-2247)

In the early 1990’s, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) evaluated in detail several options for improving north/south access in western Forsyth County.

Among these options were eight corridors for a multi-lane freeway on new location from US 158 north to US 52. These options were presented at public hearings and workshops in late 1992. It was one of these new location corridors that was selected in 1993 as the Preferred Alternative. This corridor is known as the Preferred Alternative for the Western Section of the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway.

The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Preferred Alternative was approved, and final engineering designs for the Western Section of the Northern Beltway were presented for comment at a Public Hearing in 1996.

Right of way acquisition began in 1996.

In 1999, a lawsuit was brought against the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the NCDOT regarding the FEIS. In 2001, the NCDOT began work on a combined environmental impact statement for the three sections of the Northern Beltway (Western, Eastern, and Eastern Extension sections).

Winston Salem Northern Beltway

News & Updates: