UPDATE: Chapel Hill Police shared a release at 10:40 a.m. saying Raleigh Road has reopened to all traffic.

One of Chapel Hill’s more well-traveled roads was anything but on Wednesday morning, as a downed tree led to a closure and traffic delays.

The Chapel Hill Police Department shared an alert with the community shortly before 8 a.m. Wednesday saying a tree had fallen and was leaning across Raleigh Road — which heads west-bound to UNC’s campus and east-bound to Fordham Boulevard and Interstate 40.

Police closed Raleigh Road from Greenwood Road to Country Club Road to divert traffic away from the tree, which is to be removed.

The result, however, was significant traffic delays for people in the corridor. Police urged drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians to avoid the area entirely, leading to back-ups along NC Highway 54, Fordham Boulevard and other surrounding roads. Chapel Hill Transit also issued an alert to its passengers about the road closure, saying its FCX, S, N, and A routes would be detoured and likely delayed while Raleigh Road was blocked off.

According to Duke Energy’s Outage Map, there was no power outage reported due to the fallen tree.

 

Photo via the Chapel Hill Police Department.

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
‹
Bicyclist Injured By Driver Along NC Highway 54 in Chapel Hill
A driver struck and injured a bicyclist on N.C. Highway 54 on Thursday evening. Police later cited them for a failure to reduce speed.
Car Stolen At Gunpoint Tuesday Morning; Chapel Hill Police Investigating
The Chapel Hill Police Department said it is investigating a report of a carjacking along Raleigh Road Tuesday morning and is working to identify two suspects. A release from the department said officers responded to a report of a stolen car around 9:30 a.m. at the Exxon gas station and Refuel market at 1010 Raleigh […]
Trio of Incidents Slow Chapel Hill Traffic Friday; 300 Lose Power
Chapel Hill commuters may have seen increased traffic and delays on their commutes after a trio of accidents Friday morning.
MLK Reopened -- Downed Power Lines Close MLK
Critz Drive to Piney Mountain Road.
Judy Miller's Not Ready for the Farm: Stop Senior Scams
This week - Scammers are getting smarter and increasingly targeting older adults — but you can stay one step ahead. In this episode, we sit down with Amy Nofziger from the AARP Fraud Watch Network, who brings 20+ years of experience helping victims and tracking emerging scams. She breaks down the most common schemes hitting seniors today, how criminals use emotional manipulation and even AI-generated voices, and how you can spot a scam before it happens. You’ll also learn exactly what to do if you or a loved one falls victim, plus the free resources available to help protect your family.  This episode also includes bonus radio content, a compelling interview with Chapel Hill Police Chief Celisa Lehew weighing in on the topic. This is an essential conversation to share with anyone at risk. Not Ready for the Farm is proudly presented by: Purple Puddle, Clarity Legal Group, Health Source Chiropractic, HOPE Renovations, and The 79°West Innovation Hub.
Chapel Hill Police Arrest, Charge Man For Stealing Car At Gunpoint
Officers arrested 32-year-old Alexander Quinn Zeman, who the department says approached two people and demanded their keys at gunpoint. 
Former Chapel Hill Police Officer Arrested For Planning Mass Shooting At Jazz Fest
A former Chapel Hill police officer was arrested in Florida for plans to carry out a mass shooting at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Shooting In Chapel Hill Leaves One Injured, Police Search For Suspect
The Chapel Hill Police Department said it is searching for the suspect in a late Saturday shooting that left one man injured.
Town Of Chapel Hill Announces Departure From Social Media Site X
The Town of Chapel Hill announced it will no longer post or monitor its accounts on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
UPDATE: Chapel Hill Police Safely Locate Missing Teen
The Chapel Hill Police Department shared in a release Monday morning that it is searching for a missing 14-year-old.
›