The crash of a tractor-trailer truck on Interstate 85 South in Hillsborough led to major traffic delays and closures on Tuesday afternoon — but the interstate and a road underneath it reopened after nearly two hours of work.

The Orange Rural Fire Department shared at 1:18 p.m. that one of its units was responding to a crash, which damaged the bridge of the interstate crossing over Orange Grove Road. The local department urged travelers to avoid Orange Grove Road, as it would be closed in both directions for “several hours” until the state Department of Transportation made repairs.

NCDOT issued an alert roughly an hour later, saying Orange Grove Road’s closure between Virginia Cates Road and Patriots Pointe Drive was because of a “road obstruction.” Additionally, traffic along Interstate 85 was significantly delayed as only one lane was open to moving vehicles. The obstruction was clear and the road was reopened to traffic at 2:45 p.m., according to NCDOT.

Aerial footage shared by WRAL early on Tuesday afternoon showed a tractor-trailer truck being towed away from the road, with the concrete guardrail along the bridge damaged from the crash.

Following the crash and initial delay, Orange County Schools issued an alert to its families and students — warning of the road closures and encouraging everyone to expect further information to come from the district regarding transportation updates for Tuesday afternoon.

 

Featured photo via the Town of Chapel Hill.

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 newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Orange County Rejects Appeal Over Large Confederate Flag Along U.S. 70
The Orange County Board of Adjustment rejected an appeal by a Hillsborough resident over a large Confederate flag on his private property on Monday. The board heard the case of Robert Hall Jr., who lives near U.S. Highway 70 and has had a large Confederate flag raised since April 2018. Hall was appealing his flag’s […]
Orange County Commissioners Pass Anti-Hate Resolution, '400 Years' Remembrance
1 Year Later, Orange County Working to Enforce New Flag Ordinance
The public response to a Confederate flag raised last year alongside Route 70 saw residents urge Orange County Commissioners to amend county ordinance regarding flags. The changes were made, including new restrictions on the size of flags allowed based on the zoning of the property where the flag stands. Officials then gave residents one year […]
NAACP Protests Hillsborough 'Ride and Rally'
More than 150 people gathered in front of the historic Hillsborough courthouse for the North Carolina NAACP’s “Press Conference for Historical Accuracy.” The crowd included elected officials, local NAACP leaders and residents of many races, some waving small American flags. North Carolina NAACP leader Rev. William Barber said his organization called the conference to mark […]
'Southern Heritage' Rally Could Bring 1,500 to Hillsborough on Saturday
The Town of Hillsborough is preparing for a rally in support of Confederate heritage this Saturday that’s expected to draw more than 1,500 people. Billed as an “educational rally about Confederate heritage,” the event is organized by a group called Orange County Taking Back Orange County. Members are hoping to draw attention to an effort […]
Memorial Day to Affect Local Government Services Around Orange County (2025)
The observation of Memorial Day on Monday, May 26 will affect multiple local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s a complete list of which services in which towns will be moved due to the holiday: Town of Chapel Hill Memorial Day is an official town holiday. Most town and other administrative offices will […]
Orange County Coalition Raises Alarm Over Property Value Inequities From 2025 Revaluation
A coalition of housing advocates is looking at updated Orange County property values and pointing out notable discrepancies in assessments.
Orange County Sheriff's Office: 1 Arrested, 1 At Large After Attempted Burglary
A Durham man is wanted by local law enforcement after an attempted break-in and burglary of an Orange County business, a high-speed chase and car crash during the early hours of Thursday, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. A release Thursday afternoon said the office took out six felony warrants against 24-year-old Erlin Lopez […]
NCDOT: Overnight Bridge Demolition for I-40 Widening Project Will Close Old NC 86
A old bridge of I-40 in Hillsborough is set to be demolished as the state Department of Transportation continues widening in Orange County.
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.
›