News Release

Pittsboro Street closed immediately
for emergency utility repairs

CHAPEL HILL – Pittsboro Street between Cameron and McCauley streets next to the Carolina Inn on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus was closed this evening (Feb. 15) for emergency utility repairs.

This afternoon, engineers checking a utility tunnel that runs under the roadway noticed some damage to the tunnel’s roof. Vibration caused by heavy vehicle traffic directly above the tunnel could exacerbate the damage.

Town and university officials determined that immediate closure was the best and safest course.

General southbound traffic on Pittsboro and game traffic bound for UNC’s Dean E. Smith Center for today’s 7 p.m. men’s basketball game was rerouted.

Campus police are on site assisting motorists with new routes.

Chapel Hill Transit is working this evening to determine what alternate routes will be in place beginning with the morning rush hour on Thursday.

Acknowledging the inconvenience the road closure causes, university officials said safety was their top priority and thanked town and university staff for their assistance and the local and campus communities for their patience in the days ahead.

It is hoped that one lane will reopen to traffic in the next several days. Complete repairs so that the traffic flow could return to normal could take six-to-eight weeks.

-30-

News Services contact: Lisa Katz, (919) 962-2093 or lisa_katz@unc.edu

Department of Public Safety contact: Randy Young, (919) 962-1502 or randy@dps.publicsafety.unc.edu