Northern Beltway interchanges to be finished next year

The two remaining major Northern Beltway construction projects in eastern Forsyth County are on schedule to be completed within the next 10 months, the N.C. Department of Transportation told the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners on Monday.

The planned $1.74 billion, 34.5-mile Northern Beltway will complete a direct route from U.S. 421 to the north and from Interstate 74 near High Point Road to the south.

This new 5.2-mile section, which includes a major interchange at Interstate 40, will also mark the opening of the beltway's full 17.1-mile Eastern Loop for traffic.

The larger of the two projects is the $261.7-million multilane corridor tying Interstate 74 and U.S. 311 to Interstate 40.

This project is 90% complete with an April 2027 opening projected, Deputy Division Engineer Mezak Tucker said.

The $126-million multilane corridor connecting I-40 to U.S. 311 and I-74 is about 92% complete, with an expected opening in late fall, Tucker said.

In addition to the beltway updates, Tucker also updated commissioners on other road projects.

The $10.7-million Macy Grove Road extension in Kernersville is 83% done and should open by mid-June. It adds bicycle and pedestrian accommodations from N.C. 150 to Piney Grove.

The $27.9-million project to widen N.C. 66 and Oak Hollow Road is 43% finished, with an estimated opening in April 2027. Lanes will be expanded from Harley Drive to U.S. 158.

The $87.8-million widening of U.S. 158 and Reidsville Road is 37% complete and on schedule for a March 2029 opening. Lanes will expand from Salem Parkway to Belews Creek Road.

Construction has started on the $59.8-million U.S. 421 interchange in Kernersville, which will widen and extend Hopkins/Big Mill Farm Road. Completion is set for January 2031.

This project widens and extends Big Mill Farm Road and improves Hopkins Road from Harmon Creek Road to West Mountain Street.

The NC DOT cited the need to reduce congestion in downtown Kernersville, especially near the Salem Parkway and South Main Street interchange, where traffic will rise after the Northern Beltway is finished.

The new interchange and roadway connections will better distribute local traffic and decrease volumes on existing roads and interchanges.

The beltway's Western Loop will run south from U.S. 52, cross I-40 in Clemmons, and end at Clemmons Road (U.S. 158).

Construction of the $673 million, 17.4-mile segment is not fully funded but should start in 2030.

A closed Beltway loop was originally envisioned, one of seven planned statewide under the 1989 Highway Trust Fund law.

However, the southern section was later dropped, leaving I-40 as the southern connection.

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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 8:53 PM.