BRUNSWICK COUNTY — A flooded portion of U.S. 17 that left people stranded for more than 12 hours in the aftermath of this week’s storm will reopen Thursday.
READ MORE: With few answers, NCDOT asks for patience as it works toward opening collapsed roadways
ALSO: Stranded: Locals, tourists stuck as flooding overwhelms coastal regions
The North Carolina Department of Transportation currently is creating a new traffic pattern at U.S. 17 and Town Creek; the sheriff’s department has captured videos of that area in the last two days, showing it remained impassable.
Until the new pattern is completed, to be finished later in the day on Sept. 19, drivers can expect delays. The new pattern will allow motorists to travel both northbound and southbound at least until reaching Governors Road SE, NCDOT informed.
Upon reaching Governors Road, northbound traffic will shift to the southbound side to flow through a two-lane, two-way traffic pattern. Cars will travel both north and south on the southbound side and drivers will be able to reach south of the N.C. 87 intersection.
Northbound drivers on U.S. 17 will be able to access N.C. 87, but southbound drivers will either have to make a U-turn after the intersection farther down, or take U.S. 17 Business (Old Ocean Highway) to Danford Road.
Other northbound lanes of U.S. 17 will remain closed as floodwaters have damaged pavement and repairs are underway. NCDOT crews have to pull up all current pavement and then repave the roadways; this could take several days.
Drivers can take larger detour routes of N.C. 211 to U.S. 74/76 to avoid delays.
Officials remind travelers that there are many roads in Brunswick County still closed, so caution should be executed, if one cannot avoiding driving. As well, motorists should never pass through flooded roadways or barricades.
The storm has brought one fatality in its aftermath when an 80-year-old died after driving through a flooded road on Tuesday, according to the highway patrol.
Brunswick County has received multiple calls regarding some map applications incorrectly marking closed roads and suggests drivers to follow all updated information from NCDOT here, and access all real-time road conditions and closures here.
Have tips or concerns? Email info@localdailymedia.com.
Want to read more from PCD? Subscribe now and then sign up for our newsletter, Wilmington Wire, and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.
