Business 40 Shutdown May Be Shortened Under Latest Plan

The planned two-year shutdown of Business 40 in Winston-Salem could be shortened to 14 or 15 months. 

Financial incentives have been offered to contractors to expedite work on the highway project. A full shutdown of Business 40 is scheduled to begin in November.

Larry Shaver, an engineer with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, says that the incentives could speed up the process enough to have the highway reopened in early 2020.

Shaver tells the Winston-Salem Journal that contractors will now have the flexibility to bring in sub-contractors who are available to get the work done sooner, rather than relying on those who offer the lowest bids.

And one major component of the project, the replacement of the Broad Street Bridge, will start sooner than expected.

Transportation officials outlined their latest plans during a Public Works meeting at City Hall. Officials stressed that the construction period will still be difficult for travelers and that people should plan on building 20 to 30 minutes into their daily commute.