Applied Polymerics, a Mount Airy company who was hired by the DOT to fill potholes on the highway, was supposed to stop work at 6 a.m. Instead, the contractor kept U.S. Highway 1 down to one lane near Cary Parkway until after 8 a.m., creating a traffic jam along the highway.
"[I was] very frustrated because I thought, you know, whose bright idea was this to close down all the lanes during rush hour," motorist Kim Tipton said.
DOT officials said it was a violation of state road work guidelines to shut down lanes during the morning rush.
"His contract calls for him to be out of the road by 6 a.m. He was not, so he's in violation of our contract agreement," DOT engineer Jerry Linder said. "We are getting with him now, trying to determine what penalties or assets we have to deal with him."
Applied Polymerics told the DOT that old concrete along U.S. 1 had crumbled, so closing the lanes was a safety precaution.
Applied Polymerics did not return calls from WRAL on Friday. The DOT said it will decide next week what fine will be imposed.
To report a pothole, you are asked to call 1-877-DOT-4-YOU.
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
