Motorists urged to avoid travel through North Carolina

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) - Motorists who would ordinarily travel through North Carolina are still being asked to stay out because of poor road conditions in the aftermath of Florence.

Bill Holmes, a state spokesman, said Sunday the message is: "Please don't come through here if you can avoid it."

Authorities say flooding is widespread, conditions are changing constantly and the roads need to be kept clear for first responders. High water has led to closures on Interstates 40 and 95, two major arteries.

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"Identifying detour routes through North Carolina for those traveling through the state using interstates I-95, I-40, I-85, I-77 and I-26 is becoming increasingly difficult as the remnants of Hurricane Florence move west and are predicted to cause significant flooding in South Carolina," the department said in a press release.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation posted a map online of what it acknowledged was an "extremely long detour" through Tennessee and Georgia for travelers heading south on Interstate 95.

It also warned that GPS systems are routing users into areas the department doesn't recommend for travel.

A map with real-time road conditions is available online.

For more information on Florence, visit the FOX 46 resource center.