A nasty pothole on I-440 eastbound near Wake Forest Road chewed through about 20 cars late Saturday, forcing Raleigh police to shut down the two right lanes and turning a routine night drive into an expensive headache. Officers said most of the damage was to tires and wheels, and that, fortunately, no one was hurt. The North Carolina Department of Transportation said crews were aiming to wrap up repairs by 9 a.m. Sunday.
What Officials Said
According to Raleigh police, drivers started hitting the large pothole just east of Wake Forest Road, around mile marker 10 on the Beltline. The department closed the two right lanes Saturday night so crews could get to work and urged passing drivers to slow down and give them space, according to CBS17.
Damage, Timeline and Correction
Tower cam video from the station showed officers on the shoulder while traffic squeezed by in the two left lanes. Police reported that lanes were blocked by about 10:45 p.m., as crews dealt with the busted stretch of pavement and the line of disabled cars. "No one was injured," the department said, per CBS17. The station later updated its reporting, correcting an earlier description that had mistakenly labeled the problem as a sinkhole.
Why This Stretch Breaks Down
This part of the Beltline has already earned a reputation among drivers for rough rides and repeat fixes. The NCDOT moved up a resurfacing project from Wake Forest Road to Wade Avenue after ongoing complaints from motorists, according to ABC11. WRAL has also documented earlier repaving work and driver frustration over potholes and rough pavement along I-440, especially between Wake Forest Road and Glenwood Avenue.
Drive Carefully
Drivers heading east on the Beltline Sunday morning were warned to expect slower traffic and reduced capacity near the Wake Forest Road interchange while crews finished repairs. Anyone planning to travel that stretch is urged to watch for workers on the roadside and check the N.C. Department of Transportation and Raleigh Police channels for the latest on closures and lane reopenings before getting on the road.
