HILLSBOROUGH –Southbound lanes of Interstate 85 in Orange County were reopened this afternoon after a fiery crash Wednesday morning forced officials to close the southbound lanes of the highway for much of the day.
I-85 South in Orange County was reopened to traffic just after 3 p.m. Wednesday. A tractor trailer struck the N.C. 86 bridge over I-85 shortly before 3 a.m. Wednesday. The vehicle overturned and caught fire, damaging the bridge, and forcing officials to close the road.
Starting tomorrow, and continuing intermittingly over the next week, the right lane of I-85 South will be closed to allow N.C. Department of Transportation engineers to repair damaged sections of the N.C. 86 overpass.
The N.C. 86 bridge over the interstate will remain closed to traffic to allow the department additional time to examine the crash’s impacts to the structure.
Motorists along N.C. 86 should take U.S. Business 70, Lawrence Road and Old N.C. 10 to travel around the closed area.
Drivers should remain alert, drive cautiously and slow down as they travel in this area.