How to Check for Future Road Construction Before Buying a Home in Winston-Salem

Quick Answer: Before buying a home in Winston-Salem, check North Carolina’s transportation project information to see whether road widening, interchange improvements, or other projects are planned near the property. A road that seems quiet today could look very different several years from now.

When you’re touring a home, it’s easy to focus on what you can see right now. The street is quiet. The backyard looks peaceful. There’s no construction equipment in sight. Although, what if that changes?

Future road construction is one of the less-obvious issues buyers should investigate. For a broader look at potential problems before purchasing, see our guide to Hidden Risks of Buying a Home in Winston-Salem: What Buyers Need to Know.

Why Check for Future Road Construction?

A home doesn’t exist in isolation. The roads surrounding it can change, and those changes can affect how the property functions and feels.

A planned project could involve:

• • Road widening
  • New lanes
  • Interchange improvements
  • New connections between roads
  • Intersection changes
  • Major construction
  • Changes in traffic patterns

Some projects can take years to complete, which means a home that feels peaceful today could eventually experience significantly more traffic or construction activity.

How Do I Find Planned Road Projects in Winston-Salem?

One of the best places to start is the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). NCDOT maintains the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which identifies transportation projects planned throughout North Carolina. The program can help you determine whether major transportation improvements are planned near a property you’re considering.

Before making an offer, search the available project information using the property’s location and look for projects involving nearby roads.

What Should I Look For?

You don’t necessarily need to understand every detail of a transportation plan. Instead, look for projects that could change the property’s surroundings. Pay particular attention to:

Road Widening

A two-lane road could eventually become a larger roadway. That could mean more traffic, more noise, and changes to the property’s surroundings.

Interchange Improvements

New or modified interchanges can change traffic patterns and how easily you can access surrounding roads.

New Road Connections

A new road can bring additional traffic into an area that currently feels quiet.

Major Construction Projects

Even when the finished project isn’t expected to negatively affect the property, construction itself can create years of noise, traffic disruption, and changes to access.

What About Winston-Salem’s Growth?

This is particularly worth considering in a growing region like the Piedmont Triad. As residential development, commercial activity, and transportation needs change, roads can change with them. That’s why looking only at today’s traffic isn’t always enough.

A property might be on a quiet road today, but sit near an area targeted for future transportation improvements.

Could Future Road Construction Affect a Home’s Value?

Potentially, but it depends heavily on the project and the property. A new or improved road isn’t automatically negative. Better transportation infrastructure can sometimes improve accessibility and connectivity.

However, buyers should understand how a specific project could affect:

• • Traffic volume
  • Noise
  • Property access
  • Privacy
  • Views
  • Parking
  • The surrounding neighborhood
  • Potential construction disruption

If a project would significantly change the property, that is information you should have before deciding what you’re willing to pay.

Don’t Just Look at the House—Look at the Road

It’s easy to get caught up in the house itself during a showing (i.e. the renovated kitchen, new flooring, backyard, and mature trees can all make a great first impression). However, the road outside the property can have just as much impact on your experience of the home.

Start by considering what the road is like today. Is there much traffic? Can you hear road noise from the backyard or inside the house? Our guide to How to Check for Traffic and Road Noise Before Buying a Home in Winston-Salem has tips for evaluating the property’s current noise and traffic levels.

Then take it one step further and ask:

What could this road look like five or ten years from now?

That’s a very different question from simply asking:

What does this road look like today?

Before You Buy, Check What’s Coming Next

A quiet street can be a major selling point, but do not assume it will always stay that way.

Before you make an offer, find out what’s planned around the property, not just what’s there today.

If you’re house hunting in Winston-Salem or throughout the Piedmont Triad, The Ginther Group can help you look beyond the house itself and evaluate the property, neighborhood, surrounding roads, and other factors that could affect your decision.