DOT Looking Into Cracked Pavement on I-795

Goldsboro, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Transportation is analyzing and testing a stretch of road surface on Interstate 795 to find out why the pavement is cracking.

The 21-mile stretch of Interstate 795, which runs from Wilson to Goldsboro, opened two years ago. Since then, the surface has started cracking in a 2.5-mile stretch.

"At this point, we really don't know what's happening in this small area along the 21-mile project," DOT division engineer Ricky Greene said.

Greene said there are approximately 20 potholes along the stretch of roadway and that no other parts of it appear to be cracking.

The DOT is considering repaving the stretch. That would cost at least an estimated $1 million. If the DOT determines the entire project should be repaved, the cost would be closer to $7 million.

Rep. Ty Harrell, D-Wake, says the situation is not acceptable, especially since the DOT recently had to fix parts of Interstate 40 for more than $20 million.

"Somebody has to pony up money, and it's going to be the taxpayer. They want to know why," Harrell said.

The DOT says the issue with the stretch of roadway on I-795 and the one on the 10-mile stretch of I-40 in Durham County are unrelated.

DOT officials said they will start looking into whether trucks on I-795 are driving with loads heavier than the legal limit.