'Be careful': Flooding damage shuts down section of I-95 until Friday evening

View The Original Article Here

— The aftermath of Thursday’s storms and flooding is still disrupting traffic patterns along Interstate 95.

Currently, all lanes are closed for several miles at I-95 northbound near Smithfield at Exit 102 for Pittman Road.

According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the damage is between Exits 102 and 105, but traffic is detoured from mile marker 97 to 107. As a detour, drivers are prompted to take Exit 97 to U.S. Highway 70 West to U.S. Highway 301 North to renter I-95 at mile marker 107 in Kenly.

That stretch won’t reopen until Friday evening, after high waters created a hump in the interstate pavement.

On Thursday afternoon, multiple segments of I-95 were impacted by flooding. During the height of the rainfall, a section of I-95 buckled in one place between Wilson and Rocky Mount.

Rocky Mount experienced more than 9 inches of rain over the last 48 hours – among the highest measurements in the region.

Some exits along I-95 near Rocky Mount were closed due to flooding, according to North Carolina Department of Transportation spokesman Jamie Kritzer.

Cars beneath flood waters in Charlotte.

The NCDOT earlier closed all lanes of I-95 in both directions near Wilson near Exit 121 (I-795/US-264). The closure wasn’t expected to reopen until Friday morning, but around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday the southbound lanes at Exit 121 near Wilson were able to open once again.

However, I-95 northbound is not expected to open until 5 p.m. on Friday.

Traffic - I-40 & Harrison Ave.

Even as the bulk of the rain finally moved out, many roads are still flooded around the state.

Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell said, “We have roadways with water running across them. We’re working with the NCDOT and Highway Patrol. We’ve got roadways that are impassable. Folks, be careful.”

Map