Judge paves way for Northern Beltway: He dismisses opponents' suits that stopped work since 2008

(By Wesley Young; Winston-Salem Journal) - A federal judge has given the green light for construction of the Northern Beltway around Winston-Salem, dismissing two court cases filed by opponents of the road who had sought to block it.

But Mayor Allen Joines said yesterday that the beltway may face further delays unless local officials can persuade the state to give the project priority -- and money -- in a time of tight budgets.

"We have made our case with the governor and with the secretary of transportation," Joines said. "We are working every way we can, including using our state legislators, to help push this. Because the project is big and hasn't started, it puts us down in the (priority) list."