Interstate 95 widening project hopes to avoid flooding

The N.C. Department of Transportation has signed a $432 million contract this month to rebuild eight miles of Interstate 95 through one county with an eye on eliminating a recurring flooding problem. The News & Observer of Raleigh reports flooding resulting from Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Florence in 2018 closed the highway in Robeson County for several days. Starting next year, contractors will begin work on widening I-95 from four lanes to eight and replace bridges at three interchanges. There will also be a new and higher bridge to carry I-95 over the Lumber River, where flood waters caused problems.