When completed, the loop will begin at a future partial cloverleaf interchange with Salem Parkway (US421) in the western edges of the town limits and will continue southeast along the existing Whicker Road and Shields Road, supplemented by newly constructed segments. This is the south section of the loop, which would be the boulevard section. Southeast of the currently expanded Downtown area, the loop will then follow Macy Grove Road northwards through the eastern part of the town before becoming a four-lane expressway carrying NC150, with the exit with Salem Parkway (US 421) and one-quadrant interchange with Mountain Street. Continuing on the four lane corridor, NC 150 leaves the loop northeast of central Kernersville with the at-grade intersection with North Main Street. The loop will continue along Macy Grove Road to Pinney Grove Road, then proceed along Linville Springs Road- a two lane residential street- before feeding into Dopson Street. Linville Springs Road is near Old Valley School Road, which feeds into Walkertown. West from Linville Springs Road, the loop will follow the newly funded construction segment to meet NC66 (Old Hollow Road), which currently transitions into Mountain Street direct south of the future intersection. The route will then turn onto Hopkins Road, continue along Big Mill Farm Road, and terminate at the designated endpoint of the loop.
History
During the fourth quarter of the 20th century, Kernersville experienced the completion of major urban development initiatives begun in the previous decades. In 1955, the "US421 Bypass," a four-lane expressway had opened. This connected to then-western Kernersville (present day Linville Road exit in East Winston-Salem to then-southeast of downtown Kernersville (present day eastern Downtown Kernersville). This was designated, being the mainline US 421, replacing the designation alongside Mountain Street. The expressway became fully grade-separated along the Interstate40 corridor in the late 1950s and early 1960s.[1] In 1979, the "Kernersville Boulevard" was first proposed, involving upgrades to existing local roads, and the construction of new sections.[2] Between 2013 and 2020, Macy Grove Road was widened to four-lane expressway spanning from Salem Parkway (US421) to Main Street, with NC150 rerouted onto it. During this period, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the Town of Kernersville began acquiring right-of-way for additional sections which are planned for future construction.[3][4]
Current construction and "significance"
Construction is currently underway on the interchange connecting Big Mill Farm Road and Salem Parkway. The Macy Grove Road expressway is being extended to Pinney Grove Road, with completion planned for mid-2026. Beyond the known and "inner purposes" of the loop, the southern section will connect the developing southern areas of Kernersvile with the already-developed northern areas of Kernersville, ushering into retail. The east and likely, north sections, will be of expressway standards, in the less developed areas of the town. Salem Parkway (US 421) is designed to "cut through" inside the loop, to serve directly the area of Downtown Kernersville. The Macy Grove Road (NC 150) interchange with Mountain Street, is a One Quadrant Interchange, with a separate "fork designed" lane on North NC 150 to lead to Mountain Street. The lane leading to Mountain Street from South NC 150, is closer to the "main roadway" but is designed to be long and manage flowing traffic. The Macy Grove Road diamond interchange with Salem Parkway nearby, also feature spaced forks to lead traffic to exit onto Salem Parkway.[5][6]
The nearby "Winston-Salem Northern Beltway" (I-74) will feature its eastern section of the beltway to enter into the western edges of Kernersville town limits and usher into the new vision: the Salem Parkway exit with the Beltway would lead into directly Downtown and Central Kernersville, while the exit with I-40 will lead to the developed southern areas of the town, directly bypassing the Downtown area. This also will further allow the developing Forsyth County to be further accessible in broader areas.
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