A sinkhole opened underneath N.C. 18 in Lenoir Friday afternoon and the Department of Transportation closed the highway.
The hole is near the entrances to Cedar Rock Village near the guard booth.
Witnesses say that it stretches about 30 feet and juts under the road.
The sinkhole may have been caused by a drainage issue, said Butch Owens of the Department of Transportation.
The DOT has given emergency vehicles permission to pass around the sinkhole on emergency calls. The road is closed to all other traffic.
The road will be closed for a week, according to the DOT Web site.
The DOT's suggested detour for traffic heading north from Lenoir toward Wilkesboro is to follow U.S. 64-90 to Taylorsville. Turn left onto N.C. 90 then turn left onto N.C. 16 North.
Local Traffic can use N.C. 268 to Grandin Road.
For more information, contact DOT at 726-2512.
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