NC highway in Winston-Salem to close for 2 years

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The North Carolina Transportation Department plans to close the Interstate 40 Business loop through downtown Winston-Salem for two years so it can repair a one-mile section of road.

Multiple media outlets reported that the $70 million project includes work on 11 bridges. The project is scheduled to begin in 2015 with the highway reopening in 2017. An upgrade of entrance and exit ramps should be completed the following year.

Division engineer Pat Ivey says DOT surveyed residents about whether they preferred that the highway be closed for two years or have one lane of traffic open in each direction for six years.

About 60,000 vehicles travel daily on the highway, which opened in 1960.

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