WINSTON-SALEM – A major section of the future beltway around Winston-Salem will soon begin taking shape.
Flatiron Constructors Inc. and Blythe Development Co. are combining forces to design and construct a 7-mile span of multi-lane, interstate-grade highway between U.S. 311 (New Walkertown Road) and just west of N.C. 66 (University Parkway).
The work will require constructing 10 bridges and nine culverts and implementing innovative design and construction methods. In total, crews will rework more than 4.5 million cubic yards of earth – enough to fill about 1,360 Olympic-size swimming pools, or fill the Empire State Building more than three times.
The project is estimated to cost about $140 million and take until the summer or fall of 2022 to complete.
Early construction is expected to progress from east to west, beginning with clearing work this week in the area of Old Walkertown Road and Northampton Drive.
The contract team has developed a transportation management plan focused on limiting traffic disruptions as much as possible or shifting traffic away from construction to provide a safer work zone for the traveling public, construction crews and N.C. Department of Transportation personnel.
This marks the third section of active construction on the beltway project.
The 4-mile section between Interstate 40 Business/U.S. 421 and U.S. 158 is expected to open to traffic later this year. The 2-mile span between U.S. 158 and U.S. 311 is on schedule for completion in 2021.