The current section under construction is expected to cause delays and detours until completion in May of 2011.
GUILFORD COUNTY -- It will one day be possible to make a straight shot from the Piedmont Triad to Myrtle Beach. That's evident in construction on Highway 311/Interstate 74 in Guilford County, just along Interstate 85.
"It'll be a good road for the Winston-Salem people to go to [Myrtle] Beach; they'll be able to bypass Archdale," said N.C. DOT Resident Engineer Brian Smith.
Highway 311 already runs from Winston to Business 85 in High Point. The newest seven-mile section will pick up there and run to Cedar Square Road in Randolph County.
"Then at Cedar Square Road you'll be able to exit the new road, get back onto old US 311 and go on to US 220," said Smith.
A future section will then take those drivers on to Highway 220 in Randelman. All totaled, the Winston-to-Randolph interstate will be 27 miles.
Though it's far off in the future, construction on the new road signals the one day when drivers will be able to start in Mount Airy in Surry County and end up at the beach in South Carolina.
The current section under construction is expected to cause delays and detours until completion in May of 2011.
"There will be connector lanes on each side of existing 85 where you'll get off, that way you can avoid some of the merging traffic," Smith added.
While drivers wait on the future convenience of the new road, DOT officials send out this reminder: "You know people driving through, drive safely and watch out for the workers," Smith said.
Though it's far off in the future, construction on the new road signals the one day when drivers will be able to start in Mount Airy in Surry County and end up at the beach in South Carolina.
The section cost’s taxpayers some $105 million and is expected to carry 39,000 cars a day.