BUSINESS 40 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
DRAFT FAQs
[February 4, 2016]
NOTE: All underlined words are active links to specific pages or
documents on the project website or to individual agency sites.
1. When will construction begin and when will Business 40 actually close?
Construction of the project will begin after the Design-Build contract is awarded
in July 2016. The selected Design-Build Team will begin on Phase 1, which
includes the design and right-of-way acquisition for the entire project, construction
of Peters Creek Parkway, intersection improvements at Peters Creek Parkway and
Academy Street and widening of MLK Jr. Drive between Marshall and Trade
Streets.
Only AFTER Peters Creek Parkway and local improvements are completed will
Phase 2 begin, which is the closure of Business 40 for up to 2 years. It is hoped
that the closure could be less than 2 years, but that will depend on the Design-Build
Team’s method(s) of construction.
2. What is the current status of the Business 40 Improvement project?
The planning process for the project has been completed. The environmental
documents can be viewed in their entirety via the following links:
Environmental Assessment (EA) - February 28, 2014
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) - February 27, 2015
The project is approved for federal funding (which accounts for 80%) and is now
preparing for the Design-Build phase.
Click here to view a graphic showing the timeline for the Design-Build process.
Note that the Requests for Qualifications was advertised on January 15, 2016.
3. I keep hearing the term, Design-Build. What does that mean?
Design-Build is an innovative method of project delivery in which one DesignBuild Team works under a single contract to simultaneously provide design and
construction services. In short, “one team, one contract, one streamlined flow of
work from preliminary design through completion”. Design-Build is an alternative
to the traditional “first design it, then bid it, then build it” method that is commonly
used for projects. Under the traditional approach, design, right-of-way acquisition
and construction services may be split among separate contracts, and separate
timeframes of work, which can result in a longer time between design and
construction. The Design-Build method can have a notable effect on decreasing
project completion time and costs due to inflation when compared to traditional
methods of project delivery.
The Design-Build process differs from most other methods for the following
reasons:
 Design-Build Team is selected based on “Best Value”, rather than Low Bid.
 Encourages innovative and creative design methods.
 Typically results in cost savings.
 Expedites project completion.
4. How does Design-Build work?
Basically, the project is designed and built by a single team under a single contract
instead of multiple teams working under multiple contracts. The Design-Build Team’s
proposal to perform the work for the project includes a significant amount of detail,
including a Transportation Management Plan*, Phasing Schedule, Mobilization Plan,
Date/Length of Closure, Preliminary Roadway Plans, Aesthetics and Bridge Layouts.
Click here for a graphic that shows the timeline for the Design-Build process.
* A Transportation Management Plan (TMP) details how the roads and bridges will
be constructed, phased and scheduled, as well as how existing traffic will be “managed”
during construction. The TMP will provide the date/length of closures and detour
routes.
5. What will be different on the “new” Business 40 from what is currently there
today?
The “new” Business 40 will include a lot of improvements, including all new
pavement, improved ramps, new shoulders, a complete reconstruction of Peters
Creek Parkway interchange and a new interchange configuration at Cherry and
Marshall Streets. All improvements are shown on the new Business 40 map, with
the details noted below:
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Replacement of 4th Street bridge
Replace and widen Peters Creek Parkway Bridge
Remove Eastbound slip ramp on Peters Creek Parkway
Connect Gregory and Apple Streets
Replace Green Street Bridge with a pedestrian bridge
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Remove Broad Street ramps
Modify High Street ramp
Remove Spruce Street bridge
Modify interchange ramps at Cherry/Marshall Streets
Construct Liberty Street bridge over Business 40
Construct The Strollway over Business 40
Replace Broad, Marshall, Cherry, Main, and Church Street bridges
Remove access to Liberty Street
Modify interchange ramps at Main Street
6. How many bridges will be replaced?
A total of 11 bridges will be replaced, with one bridge being eliminated (Spruce
Street bridge), as follows:
 Peters Creek Parkway – will be completely reconstructed to operate as a full
interchange when completed.
 Green Street Bridge – will be constructed as a pedestrian bridge, as well as
carry the City’s utilities.
 4th Street, Broad Street, Marshall Street, Cherry Street, Liberty Street, Main
Street and Church Street bridges will be replaced. The new Liberty Street
Bridge will go OVER Business 40 rather than UNDER Business 40 as it
currently does.
 Spruce Street Bridge will be removed, with Spruce Street ending at a cul-desac just north of Business 40.
 The new Brookstown Bridge on Business 40 will be shortened.
 The new Strollway Pedestrian Bridge will be constructed OVER Business
40.
7. Will the bridges have different design elements than current bridges?
In short, yes! During the past few years, NCDOT worked closely with a
community-based Bridge and Design Working Group to provide input on how to
improve the aesthetic appearance of the Business 40 bridges, interchanges and
related roadway infrastructure. The Working Group focused on bridge design
elements (rails, lighting, retaining walls, sidewalks, overall look, etc.) and the
Green Street Pedestrian Bridge. The group finalized their work in October 2014
by producing a series of design preferences to be considered in the aesthetic design
of the project.
Parallel to the Working Group process, the Creative Corridors Coalition (C3), a
private non-profit citizens group, developed its own master plan and design
guidelines for several infrastructure projects, including Business 40, to include
artistic design elements. The City, noticing differences between the C3 guidelines
and the Working Group design preferences, procured the services of Stimmel &
Associates to meld the two visions and NCDOT design requirements into a
cohesive plan of aesthetic improvements. In May 2015, the elements of the
cohesive plan were presented.
C3 furthered their efforts in March 2015 by hiring Consultants to provide
alternative designs for the Peters Creek Parkway Bridge, Green Street Pedestrian
Bridge and Strollway Bridge.
Stimmel & Associates will incorporate the new C3 designs within the cohesive
plan. A final Aesthetics Plan for the Business 40 Project was approved by the City
Council in late 2015.
Check out the latest bridge renderings approved by NCDOT and the WinstonSalem City Council. Thank you to NCDOT’s Working Group and the City for
their hard work and efforts to make this project a visually “wowing” design!
8. How will the construction be phased?
Prior to any work on Business 40, two other projects will be completed to help
move traffic, including the Salem Creek Connector at U.S. 52 and the new
Winston-Salem Signal System.
As noted in Q#1, Phase 1 of the project will include the design and right-of-way
acquisition for the entire project, construction of Peters Creek Parkway,
intersection improvements at Peters Creek Parkway and Academy Street and
widening of MLK Jr. Drive between Marshall and Trade Streets. During
construction of the new Peters Creek Parkway interchange, traffic will be
maintained on Peters Creek Parkway.
Only after Peters Creek Parkway Interchange is built will Phase 2 occur, which is
the actual closure of Business 40. NCDOT has been very clear that Business 40
can only be closed for up to 2 years; proposed project schedule will be a part of the
evaluation criteria for the prospective Design-Build Teams.
NCDOT will also specify that the Cherry-Marshall and Liberty-Main one-waystreet pairs cannot be closed at the same time.
9. During the closure, where will traffic go?
The traffic that is just passing through Winston-Salem will be encouraged to divert
to I-40. The other traffic (i.e., daily commuter) traveling into and out of downtown
will be diverted to local roads in and around downtown. The traffic analysis
conducted as part of the planning process showed that most downtown streets could
accommodate the additional traffic during the closure of Business 40. However, it
also showed that several roads, including 1st and 2nd Streets, would be congested
during the morning and afternoon peak hours. The construction phasing schedule
and length of closure will determine which alternate routes drivers will be directed.
This information will be available after July 2016.
It is important to remember that Peters Creek Parkway and U.S. 52 will be fully
functional during the closure of Business 40, providing important north-south
movements to the west and east of the Business 40 project limits. Additionally,
Salem Creek Connector and Research Parkway will provide an additional access
from the south into downtown, while roads like MLK Jr. Boulevard, 5th Street, 3rd
Street, and 1st and 2nd Street one-way-street pairs will continue to be available
during construction. Click here to view two maps that show available roads to use
during construction.
Several intersections in the downtown area will also be temporarily modified
during Business 40 construction, primarily by adding a left turn lane. These
temporary improvements will be evaluated after the Business 40 project is
completed to determine if they will remain or returned to their pre-project
operations.
10.When will NCDOT post detour routes?
In addition to using I-40 as a detour, other routes will be published after the DesignBuild Team is selected and their Transportation Management Plan is finalized and
approved by NCDOT. This will occur after July 2016. In the meantime, drivers
can get a sense of which roads will be available to use during construction by
clicking here.
11.Will there be portable or permanent signage directing travelers where to go?
NCDOT will place portable (movable) signs on I-40 and other major roads during
construction to direct drivers to alternate routes if an incident occurs or if a special
situation arises during the day. New, permanent signs will also be placed at exits
along Business 40 directing drivers along the best route to major destinations.
Further, in coordination with the City and Downtown Winston Salem Partnership,
additional “wayfinding” signs will be located throughout downtown to identify the
location of government facilities, popular destinations and attractions after the
Business 40 project is completed.
12. How will NCDOT ensure that I can still reach businesses and, if I work
downtown, that my commute is not longer?
NCDOT has been in continuous coordination and discussions with major
stakeholders that will be greatly impacted by the closure, including Wake Forest
Baptist Medical Center, Winston Salem Transit Authority, Piedmont Area
Regional Transit and Winston Salem Forsyth County Schools, among others.
NCDOT will do everything possible to minimize impacts to their operations,
including giving them as much lead time as possible to make route changes to their
emergency vehicles and buses. However, NCDOT cannot ensure that commutes
will remain the same due to the nature of the construction. Therefore, commuters
(employees and patrons) should allow extra time to reach their destination.
NCDOT will do whatever is needed to make the construction and closure go as
smoothly as possible for those that visit as well as work in the downtown area.
13.What happens if/when an accident occurs on a detour road during the
closure? How will NCDOT handle the accident?
Part of the Design-Build Team’s responsibilities will include the development of
an Incident Management Plan that will identify “how” incidents (accidents) are
handled during construction. This will include everything from portable signage
to coordination with police, fire and towing companies working together to
expedite removal of vehicles involved in an accident. This is a very critical
component of the project during the closure of Business 40!
NCDOT also made sure that no other roadway projects that would affect this
project are scheduled for (major) construction during the Business 40 construction
timeframe.
14.When will the project be completed?
It is anticipated that the project will be completed within 4-5 years after the DesignBuild Team begins work. Phase 1 will begin in late 2016/early 2017, with the
closure of Business 40 occurring after Phase 1. Once Business 40 is completed,
the “new and improved” Business 40 will reopen. Some local roadwork will likely
continue once Business 40 reopens, but impacts will be minimal.
15.Who is responsible for constructing the project; does the City have a role in
the project?
NCDOT and FHWA are the lead agencies responsible for implementing the project,
but the City of Winston Salem has a significant role as the local government.
Because most of the downtown roads are City-owned, the City has a direct role in
their design. The City has allocated funds to provide design “enhancements” to
various elements of the project, including the bridges, multi-use path, retaining
walls and road treatments.
The City may also implement temporary traffic calming measures on several
downtown streets during the closure to ensure the safety of pedestrians. The City
is also considering the conversion of some one-way-street pairs into two-way
streets after the Business 40 project is completed. Coordination with the City has
and will continue to be ongoing throughout the life of the project.
16.How is the project funded?
The base cost of the project is approximately $80M – with 80% of the project paid
with federal funding and the state paying the remaining 20% of the project cost.
As mentioned in Q#15, NCDOT will fund the base project with the City funding
the design enhancements using several funding sources and contributions.
17.What is the best way for the public to get project information at this time?
To obtain detailed project information, the Business 40 web site is the best place to
go! We’ve updated the site and are working hard to keep the information current
(www.business40nc.com). If you have specific questions, you can also email us at
[email protected]. Quarterly project newsletters also provide a
wealth of information, and can be read or downloaded by clicking Business 40
Newsletters. If you are part of a business or organization that may be affected by
the project, please contact Karen Simon at 336.749.1411 or
[email protected] for a stakeholder presentation. Our team representatives
will be happy to present the project, explain the Design-Build process and answer
questions.
18.Is there assistance available for businesses to help them prepare for the
closure?
Short answer, yes! Small business owners can contact our Business 40 Liaison,
Ms. Cassandra Herndon, at 336-747-7833 or [email protected].
Cassandra will assist your business with identifying and securing resources,
technical assistance, as well as share project information.
Mid- to large-size businesses can contact Karen Simon at 336-749-1411 or
[email protected] to schedule a presentation about the project and DesignBuild process and timeline, as well as discuss your needs and concerns as the
project moves forward in the Design-Build phase.
The Chamber and Downtown Winston Salem Partnership are also great
resources for information and have teamed with NCDOT to develop and implement
a Marketing and Communications Plan during the construction and closure.
19.How will you inform the public of upcoming construction, bridge/road
closures, detours, etc.?
As mentioned in Q#17, the project web site (www.business40nc.com) will provide
a lot of information on the project during construction and closure. However, for
“real time” information, NCDOT will utilize Twitter and a direct phone line at the
NCDOT’s Division 9 office, as noted below:
Twitter: @NCDOT_Triad #Biz40NC
Phone: 336-747-7800
Email: [email protected]
It is also envisioned that other social and communications media, i.e., blogs,
community Facebook pages, radio and television stations and newspapers, will
relay information on the project and provide daily updates and notices.
Navigational apps are also available for drivers that provide current traffic alerts
and identify highlight congested roads, fastest routes, best times to leave, etc.
NCDOT will work closely with the media to ensure that all information about
closures, construction, detours and route changes are quickly and correctly
communicated to the public.
WE are here to assist YOU! So please don’t hesitate to contact us for any questions
or comments you may have!