- Another $500M for Hurricane Helene relief in North Carolina passes key hurdle
- Crews battle wildfire in McDowell County, NC
- Wildfire in McDowell County, NC is 20% contained, officials say
- California governor asks Congress for nearly $40 billion for Los Angeles wildfire relief
- North Buncombe High School students lead recovery efforts for NC farmers post-Hurricane Helene
I-40 reopens more than a week after Florence
Raleigh, N.C. — Roads across southeastern North Carolina, including Interstate 40 between I-95 and Wilmington, are slowly being reopened to traffic after more than a week under water.
What’s closed?
The NCDOT has released a county-by-county list of all road closures in the state.
Although Interstate 95 opened statewide late Sunday, Gov. Roy Cooper said flooding dangers remain in much of the southeast portion of the state.
On Monday, the NCDOT advised motorists to avoid travel in Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, Jones, Lenoir, Pender, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, and southeastern Wayne counties due to washed out roads and bridges.
Alternate routes
The DOT recommends motorists reach these cities by the following routes:
Wilmington
From the south via US 17
From the north via I-40 east to NC 24 east (Exit 373) to US 17 south
From Fayetteville via NC 87 to US 701 south to NC 211 east to US 74 east
Jacksonville via I-40 to NC 24 (Exit 373)
Kinston via NC 11 south from Greenville
New Bern via US 17 south from Washington
Havelock and Morehead City via US 17 in Washington to New Bern
The governor and state officials are urging drivers to stop moving or driving around barricades and signs. Even if a road looks clear, its structural integrity could be affected, and the road is dangerous to drive on.