UPDATED: SCDOT closes I-95 due to flooding

Interstate 95 is reopening at 4 p.m., EDT Friday, Sept. 21 in both Dillon and Florence counties, according to a news release from the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

The agency had closed a lengthy stretch of I-95 in both directions due to flooding at the Great Pee Dee River at mile marker 175. SCDOT reports that there are “widespread road closures” due to flooding on primary and secondary routes throughout the Pee Dee.

Due to flooding from Hurricane Florence, large segments of I-95 remain closed in North Carolina beginning at mile marker 13, US Route 74.

SCDOT reports that upstream floodwaters are now making their way into the northeast region of the state, prompting additional flood mitigation efforts on US 501, US 378 and on US 17 in Georgetown. Repair efforts are beginning in the north-central portion of the state as floodwaters recede. There are 169 active road closures due to Hurricane Florence as of Friday afternoon.

South Carolina road conditions can be viewed here.

Motorists are strongly advised not to travel in southeastern and south-central North Carolina due to flooding, according to a bulletin on the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s website. Affected areas include south of U.S. 264 and east of I-73/I-74.

NCDOT has begun an assessment of road conditions as well as railway, ferry, aviation and Department of Motor Vehicle assets. As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, about 800 sections of road were closed, with about 750 of those in the eastern half of the state. Most of the closures are due to flooding, however, a NCDOT news release notes that some are blocked by debris left in the wake of Florence’s landfall near Wrightsville Beach on Sept. 14.

“In some areas, water has receded and NCDOT crews have been able to inspect roads and bridges to determine whether they are safe to open, or will need repairs and must remain closed,” according to the release. “However, in many communities there is still a wait for water to drain away. And other roads may become flooded as rivers, such as the Neuse, reach flood stage later in the week. Because the status of many roads can change on short notice, the department continues to urge people to not drive into impacted areas of the state for their own safety.”

An updated list of road closures is being maintained at DriveNC.gov.

Currently, there are 11 river gauge sites in major flood across the Carolinas. Several gauges are above or forecast to crest above record levels. Here is the latest river observations and forecasts: https://t.co/FRO7lx1Wex #scwx#ncws #flooding #Florence pic.twitter.com/hmzN9Wmdhk

— NWS Charleston, SC (@NWSCharlestonSC) September 19, 2018