Accidents spike around I-40/440 construction zone
WAKE COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- As the North Carolina Department of Transportation works to repave and widen I-40, there has been a spike in accidents on the roadway.
This week alone, there have been two major crashes, each shutting down the interstate for hours. The NC DOT says most of the accidents are happening during rush hour.
Statistics show that through Aug. 26, from Lake Wheeler Road to US-1, there has been one crash every day eastbound and one crash every two days westbound. The DOT says there haven't been any serious injuries or fatalities, but there have been close calls.
Early Thursday morning, two DOT subcontractor employees were injured and diesel fuel spilled onto the road. On Monday, a wreck backed up traffic for miles and sent a driver to the hospital.
DOT Spokesperson Steve Abbott says drivers are ignoring the speed limit, which is now 60 miles per hours in the work zone.
"They're going way too fast still. Drivers are going way too fast for the conditions, and they're not slowing down," he said.
Conditions include narrow lanes, grooved pavements, and no shoulder.
"Of course it's very dangerous. You gotta be careful," said Raleigh resident Rufus Edmisten.
"[People are] tailgating other cars, so it's definitely very hazardous," said Raleigh resident Travis Hudson.
Some drivers are adding to the dangers. We spotted one man shooting out a text message on his phone while coasting through the construction.
"That's the last place I would try to do that," said Raleigh resident Bill Enright.
The victims of this week's wrecks are expected to be okay, but Abbott says Thursday's accident could have been catastrophic.
"If that truck had gone maybe a little distance it could have taken people and killed them," said Abbott.
The DOT is urging drivers to keep their speeds down and eyes up.
"We want them to pay attention. Eight miles you give up playing with the radio. Get off the phone," said Abbott.
The DOT has hired extra police officers to stay in the work zone and ticket speeding drivers.
Right now, motorists have a tight squeeze on the eastbound lanes. The DOT says within the next few weeks lanes will shift on the westbound lanes.
