Beltway Project Won't Get Boost From Bond

Gov. Pat McCrory kicked off a $3 billion bond referendum in Winston-Salem in April with big plans to improve the state's highways, parks and buildings.

But the proposal has gone through many changes as it has made its way through the legislature, and that could have an impact on a major local road project.

There's a reason McCrory chose Winston-Salem to announce the bond package – about a third of the highway money would go for Triad road projects. And the biggest chunk of that would go for completing the eastern part of Winston-Salem's Northern Beltway.

The latest Senate version of the bond package leaves out money for road projects. Still, Pat Ivey, a Division Engineer for the state Department of Transportation, says he's optimistic that lawmakers will include money for the project in future budgets. But he says without the bond money the projected 2017 start date will likely be delayed a few years.

“We've got projects funded on the beltway scheduled for 2022. Future projects on top of that in the next version of the transportation improvement program would typically come after that date.”

The eastern leg of the beltway is made up of eight segments running from U.S. 52 in northern Winston-Salem to U.S. 311 toward High Point. About half of the project is already funded, and one segment is under construction.