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Be careful on the roads: Ian knocks down power lines, trees

Several roads in central North Carolina were blocked by fallen trees on Saturday morning, a couple hours after Ian swept across the state with strong winds and heavy rain.

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RALEIGH, N.C. — Several roads in central North Carolina were blocked by fallen trees on Saturday morning, a couple hours after Ian swept across the state with strong winds and heavy rain.

"As the sun comes up and crews get out, we'll get a better sense of the extent of the damage," said WRAL reporter/anchor Brian Shrader. "We have reports of downed trees and power lines blocking dozens of roads in our viewing area. Traffic signals are out in many areas."

In Raleigh at 7 a.m., traffic lights at Six Forks and Lassiter Mill roads were out, the police department said.

Authorities also posted online that there was a power outage along Rock Quarry Road near Sanderford Road and areas south.

Good Morning! Hundreds of thousands of customers without power this morning. The good news is the weather will be quieter today. This will allow crews to get to those downed power lines.

Officials warn that you should drive carefully if you're planning on hitting the road on Saturday morning. There still could be downed power lines or trees, which could be difficult to see without traffic lights.

"It's a good idea to stay off the road this morning until crews get a chance to clear more roads," Shrader said.

Drivers should assume all downed power lines are active and stay at least 30 feet away from them.

Saturday morning road closures

Wake County

  • Part of Poole Road near Knightdale was closed in both directions near Grasshopper Road. Officials say there were power lines and utility poles in the road. A tree was entangled in power lines on Grasshopper Road between Stone Wealth Drive and Smithfield Road.
  • Leslie Drive was closed near Mount Vernon Church Road north of Raleigh in Wake County. North Carolina Department of Transportation officials say a downed tree caught in power lines there.

Durham County

  • Range Road near Adcock Road in Durham was closed in both directions because of downed power lines in the roadway
  • Power lines were in the road along Red Mountain Road in Durham

Orange County

  • The North Carolina Highway 86 ramp in Orange County to Interstate 40 was closed due to Hurricane Ian
  • Mount Sinai Road near North Carolina Highway 86, near Hillsborough, was closed in both directions
  • Orange Grove Road near Boreland Road was closed in both directions
  • Part of Lawrence Road near U.S. Route 70, just east of Hillsborough, was closed in both directions
  • Schley Road, near North Carolina Highway 57, north of Hillsborough, was closed in both directions

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