Surry Business

The U.S. Department of Transportation has given the go-ahead for plans to build the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway in Forsyth County, the Winston-Salem Journal reported Saturday.

This step completes the project’s environmental review. Once a pending legal challenge is resolved, the state may begin right-of-way acquisition and construction planning, according to a news release from the N.C. Department of Transportation.

The Northern Beltway consists of a western portion from U.S. 158 north to U.S. 52 and an eastern portion from U.S. 52 north of Winston-Salem to U.S. 311 southeast of Winston-Salem. The project may cost more than $1 billion.

Having work start on the Northern Beltway has long been seen as a requisite step before improvements can upgrade U.S. 52 to interstate status on what’s designated as the Interstate 74, or I-74, corridor between Mount Airy and Winston-Salem.