BURLINGTON, N.C. — Work to repair a washout in Burlington has caused some major traffic disruptions.
An area along Altamahaw Union Ridge Road has been closed on both sides since Aug. 13 as crews have worked to make repairs. A representative for the North Carolina Department of Transportation said the washout was caused by heavy rains brought on by Tropical Storm Debby.
According to drivenc.gov, the road work is expected to last until Sep. 19. The suggested detour route has travelers taking Basin Creek Road to Burch Bridge Road before returning to Altamahaw Union Ridge Road past the area where work is being done.
Burlington washout
Nancy Garcia-Guirrie is one of the local residents who has been impacted by the ongoing work. She told WFMY News 2 she had no idea there was damage along the road until we showed her some photos of the massive pit on the side of Altamahaw Union Ridge Road.
"I didn't know what was down there," she said. "I just know it's blocked off."
The detour Garcia-Guirrie has had to take in order to take her children to school has added 15 minutes to her normal commute and has caused an increase in traffic around Clover Garden School. But she said she is most concerned about how the road work could impact emergency response times.
"They have to do the detour as well," she said. "How much longer does that take? And what about the houses that are in between there?
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