N.C. 86 Bridge in Hillsborough Re-Opens After Repairs

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.

‹

Wild Vehicle Pursuit Leaves 2 Orange County Sheriff's Cars Damaged, 2 Charged for Drug Possession

A cross-county vehicle pursuit on Wednesday resulted in two Durham residents facing several felony changes, as well as a pair of damaged Orange County Sheriff's vehicles and Alamance County properties.

Orange County Sheriff's Office: Early Road Conditions Poor on Sunday Following Snow Storm

Following Saturday's snowfall in the Triangle on Saturday, law enforcement and government agencies are updating road conditions on Sunday.

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 […]

Truck Crash on Interstate 85 South Closes Lane and Orange Grove Road in Hillsborough

The crash of a tractor-trailer truck on Interstate 85 South in Hillsborough is leading to major traffic delays and closures on Tuesday afternoon.

Highway Patrol: 1 Dead After 53-Vehicle Crash on Snowy I-40 in Orange County

A major pile-up of vehicles on Interstate 40 in Orange County Wednesday afternoon left one person dead and several others injured, according to emergency services.

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 […]

Sheriff's Office Charges Hillsborough Man in Coleman Loop Road Fire and Residence Break-Ins

The Orange County Sheriff's Office charged a Hillsborough man related to a recent fire at a business complex and a series of home break-ins.

Orange Rural Fire Department Responds to Structure Fire in Hillsborough

UPDATE: The Orange County Sheriff’s Office charged a Hillsborough man on Tuesday in connection to the fire. Click here to read coverage. The Orange Rural Fire Department has been fighting a structure fire at 1515 Coleman Loop Road, just north of downtown Hillsborough, for more than 48 hours. According to the department, firefighters arrived on […]

Durham Police Charge Hillsborough Man in Fatal I-85 Crash

Police said a crash along Interstate 85 near the Orange County line led to the death of a Durham man and charges for a Hillsborough resident.

N.C. 86 Bridge in Hillsborough Re-Opens After Repairs

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 […]

›