At Beltway Groundbreaking, McCrory Pushes For Transportation Bond

Gov. Pat McCrory was in Forsyth County Friday to break ground on the  long-awaited eastern leg of the Northern Beltway.  The nearly four-mile section of the beltway will run between business 40 and U.S. 158.

The beltway is designed to run a total of 34 miles, forming a half circle running from southeastern Forsyth County to Clemmons. But the eastern half is the highest priority.

McCrory announced in September that he will ask the legislature for $1 billion in bonds to be used for transportation projects. That would help pay for completing road projects, including the full northern beltway. Friday's appearance was a chance for the governor to stress the importance of the bonds.

“This is borrowing against existing funds, which means we speed up projects that have been sitting idly on the sidelines for far too long. The longer we wait on the sidelines, the cost of these projects are going to go up,” says McCrory.

McCrory was accompanied by State Transportation Secretary Tony Tata. He says the state considered 3,100 road projects worth a total of $70 billion. He says the feedback he has gotten on the bond issue has been strong, with some people asking if it is enough.

"Some of the response we've been getting has been 'Why are you just asking for a billion?' And so there are people that are encouraging us to ask for more," says Tata.

Construction on the first segment of the eastern leg is expected to begin next month and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018.

Also Friday, the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce unveiled a new Web site focused on the Northern Beltway project.