Corridor Protection Maps Rescinded
In July 2016, the N.C. General Assembly rescinded corridor protection maps for the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway’s Western Loop (U. S. 158 to U.S. 52), which went into effect Oct. 6, 1997, and Eastern Loop (from U.S. 52 to U.S. 311), which went into effect Nov. 26, 2008.
A protected corridor limits certain types of development in a corridor that includes land NCDOT anticipates it will need to build a road. Building is restricted in the corridor in accordance with
Transportation Corridor Official Map Act.
Updated Designs Presented
On Oct. 27, 2015, NCDOT presented updated
designs for the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway for the U.S. 52 interchange at Bethania-Rural Hall Road and the surrounding area in Rural Hall.
Western Loop Corridor Map Update Proposed
On June 25, 2013, NCDOT presented a proposed revised map for a portion of the Western Loop from U.S. 421 to Robinhood Road, and at the Beltway interchange with Bethania- Tobaccoville Road. The revised map included three changes:
- The interchange of the beltway with Bethania-Tobaccoville Road was redesigned to avoid impacts to a historic property.
- Following the previous Corridor Protection Public Hearing, the section of the beltway from U.S. 421 to Robinhood Road was not protected by the Transportation Corridor Official Map Act, because right-of-way acquisition was already underway in that area at the time. This area was proposed for corridor protection.
- A previously proposed access road from Tilmark Drive to Peace Haven Road was removed.
NCDOT subsequently decided not to adopt or file the proposed revised map.
Legal Challenges
On May 20, 2010, a U.S. District judge dismissed two lawsuits – filed in 1999 and 2008 – against proposed plans for the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway, allowing NCDOT to move forward with buying right of way and construction.