The North Carolina Highway 86 bridge over Interstate 85 in Hillsborough re-opened on Monday afternoon, according to a North Carolina Department of Transportation spokesperson. The bridge had been closed for repairs since May 31, when a tractor trailer carrying construction equipment struck and damaged a steel support.

The NCDOT initially estimated repairs would be complete by the end of June and kept the southbound lane of the bridge open. However, the bridge eventually closed to all traffic and repairs were delayed by severe weather during the planned work period.

“It turns out there is a very small number of contractors in the entire country that do this kind of work,” Hillsborough mayor Jenn Weaver said at the time. “And so when we had bad weather here, rather than hanging out for a week until the weather was better, that team had to go to another project.”

During the bridge’s closure, signed detours on the site directed motorists to use I-85 North to exit 170, then travel on I-85 South to exit 165.

Now that the bridge is open again, Orange County motorists can only hope its luck takes a turn for the better. The bridge also closed for repairs in September of 2022, when a tractor trailer crashed into the bridge and caught fire. The bridge was closed for several days while repairs were made.

 

Featured image via Google Maps

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Overnight Repairs Scheduled for N.C. 86 Bridge in Hillsborough
Contractors from the North Carolina Department of Transportation are planning for overnight closures along a section of Interstate 85 in Hillsborough to repair the North Carolina Highway 86 bridge. The southbound lanes of the interstate are set to close at Exit 165 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. starting on Saturday, June 17. According to […]
North Carolina Highway Patrol: 1 Dead After Hillsborough Car Crash
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating a car crash which left one person dead early on Friday morning. According to state troopers, the crash occurred around 5:40 a.m. on Interstate 85 North, near the interchange with Orange Grove Road in Hillsborough. All northbound lanes of Interstate 85 near Orange Grove Road were closed […]
N.C. Highway 86 Bridge Repairs Delayed Until Mid-July
The original version of this article stated one lane of the N.C. 86 bridge was open. Multiple sources have reported the bridge to be totally closed. The article has been updated to reflect this. Repairs on the damaged N.C. Highway 86 bridge over Interstate 85 in Hillsborough will be delayed until July. The repairs […]
NC 86 Overpass Partially Closed For Repairs; Likely to Last Several Weeks
The northbound lane of the N.C. Highway 86 bridge over Interstate 85 in Hillsborough will likely be closed for several weeks for repairs, according to a release from the town government. A steel support for the bridge under the northbound lane was damaged in an accident on May 31, when a tractor trailer carrying construction […]
Orange County Communities to Observe Martin Luther King Day Jan. 19. Here's How it Affects Services.
The observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 19 will affect local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s what residents can expect this year: Town of Chapel Hill Most town offices will be closed Monday. Residential trash normally collected Monday will be collected Wednesday, Jan. 21. Curbside recycling collection will […]
Orange County Communities to Interrupt Services for December Holidays (2025)
Communities around Orange County will interrupt their normal service schedules during the upcoming winter holidays. Here’s what customers can expect: Town of Chapel Hill Town of Chapel Hill government offices will be closed from Wednesday, Dec. 24 through Friday, Dec. 26. Residential trash collection will not be affected. Yard trimmings will not be collected on […]
Thanksgiving Holiday to Affect Local Government Services in Orange County (2025)
Thanksgiving will fall on Thursday, November 27 this year, and the holiday will affect several local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s a rundown of what residents can expect: Town of Chapel Hill Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 are both town holidays. Residential trash collection will not be affected. However, there […]
Labor Day to Affect Local Government Services Around Orange County Community (2025)
Monday marks the observance of Labor Day, which is meant to celebrate the contribution of workers and employees across the United States. With that, the local governments in Orange County will be giving many of their employees the day off, which will affect certain local government services. Ahead of the holiday on Monday, September 1, […]
Celebration of July 4 to Alter Local Government Services in Orange County
The celebration of Independence Day on Friday, July 4 will affect several local government services in and around Orange County. Here’s a look at what will and won’t be happening that week: Town of Chapel Hill All Chapel Hill administrative offices will be closed Friday. Residential trash pickup will not be affected. Commercial trash will […]
Orange Rural Fire Department Responds to Blaze at Hillsborough Storage Facility
The Orange Rural Fire Department responded to a commercial structure fire at the Surety Storage facility in Hillsborough late Tuesday night. Surety Storage is located at 2707 North Carolina Highway 86 South. According to a release from the fire department, the first engine to arrive quickly reported smoke and fire conditions from “several” storage units […]
›