Business 40 Reopens as Salem Parkway Six Months Ahead Of Schedule

The highway formerly known as Business 40 reopened this weekend, six months ahead of schedule.

The new Salem Parkway/U.S. 421 opened to traffic Sunday. Bridges reopened Friday afternoon. 

The highway has been closed since November 2018 for reconstruction. NCDOT officials said contractors worked longer hours to speed up the project. 

“This has been an unprecedented feat,” said NCDOT Engineer Pat Ivey. “Never in the history of our state has a section of freeway been closed in both directions at the same time for reconstruction.”

He says drivers can expect a complete transformation.

“I want to remind everyone that this is a very different road that people will see from what they saw before the closures,” said Ivey. “So drivers and pedestrians alike need to be aware of all the changes. For example, we no longer have interchange ramps at Broad Street and at Liberty Street.”

Ivey said although Salem Parkway has reopened to traffic, full construction of the highway will not be completed for several months. He noted some of that work will require nighttime lane closures.