Construction to Close One Lane of Westbound US 421/I-40 Business

Motorists who use US 421/I-40 Business near Kernersville could notice some major delays over the next two weeks.

The state Department of Transportation started Monday widening an almost mile-long stretch of highway near Macy Grove Road. Aaron Griffith, a DOT construction engineer, says Business 40 will remain open.

There will be a westbound right lane closure over the next 15 days," he says "Right now it's scheduled to re-open August 11th.

Griffith says the project will add ramps connecting Business 40 and Macy Grove Road, which will give better access to the Kernersville Medical Center. The shoulders along the interstate will also be improved. Griffith says the widening project is the first step in a proposed Kernersville Loop.

"It'll ease congestion on some of the the center streets in Kernersville, particularly on Mountain Street, Main Street and (NC) 66," he explains. "It will give another route for traffic to go around Kernersville."

Griffith suggests using Interstate 40 as an alternate route to Business 40 during the construction. An estimated 48,000 vehicles travel on Business 40 in Kernersville each day.