WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Creative Corridors Coalition says millions of dollars in artistic lighting, artwork, architecture, landscaping and more can be a part of the newly renovated Business I-40 through downtown Winston-Salem.
The group will showcase its ideas for artistic lighting at a public meeting Tuesday night.
The ideas will include lights on bridges, lights in the median as well as lighted artwork, retaining walls , maybe even pedestrian bridges and landscaping with unique lights.
“They’re cool! They are really inspirational. There are lots of different options and lots of cool stuff,” Creative Corridors Coalition Executive Director Russ Dubois said of the ideas.
Dubois said the idea is to make the road a memorable entrance in the city which will help retain and attract businesses and creative individuals.
“We’ve got this once in two generation opportunity to do something to make it stand out and make it special. We’d be crazy if we didn’t take the opportunity and do something to make it extraordinary,” said Dubois.
Dubois estimates it will take $5 to $10 million to make the improvements along Business I-40. He said the group will start writing grant applications and soliciting private donations in the near future.
The non-profit group has already helped secure nearly $2 million in federal grant money and raised close to $400,000 for similar improvements along the Salem Creek Connector. That road is under construction now.
Creative Corridors was founded in partnership with the Winston-Salem Arts Council as a group of citizens interested in seeing the many major road projects scheduled for the area have a unique creative element to them.
Creative Corridors says it’s cheaper to enhance and improve the city’s roads and add character as the roads are being built rather than after they are finished.
For more information on the Business I-40 lighting or other road projects check out www.creativecorridors.org.
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