A crash on NC 54 near Durham left a driver critically injured and caused major delays; 40 crashes reported at the intersection since 2020, with improvements not expected until 2033
Traffic Update at N.C. Highway 54 and Farrington Road
Traffic moved normally at the intersection of N.C. Highway 54 and Farrington Road near Durham on Friday.
All lanes of the busy roadway reopened more than 19 hours after a car hit a utility pole and knocked down power lines on Thursday. The crash left the driver with life-threatening injuries, according to the Durham Police Department.
Drivers experienced backups for miles during the evening commute on Thursday. Motorists in the area say crashes are common near the intersection, prompting some to call for changes.
“Why in the world they don’t expand it? I don’t know,” said John Kline. “Unfortunately, things like that happen, not quite to that significance when they cut everything off.”
The latest traffic count data from the North Carolina Department of Transportation shows an average of 43,000 drivers use this stretch of NC 54 daily.
A department spokesperson reported 40 crashes at the intersection from 2020 to 2024. Kline believes increased development in the area has added more drivers on the road.
“You come here around five o’clock, you have to wait up at the light quite a long time, even in the best of circumstances,” he said.
In an email to WRAL, an NCDOT spokesperson stated improvements are planned for the stretch of Highway 54 near the crash site. However, that project is not set to begin until 2033.
“There is a project in the North Carolina STIP (State Transportation Improvement Program) that will provide interchange improvements, including upgrade of N.C. 54 from east of Little Creek to east of I-40,” said the DOT spokesperson. “Corridor improvements being considered involve a variety of strategies such as roadway widening, intersection improvements, overpasses, and interchange upgrades.”
In the meantime, Kline says he will find other ways to get around.
“That’s why, shoot, the bicycle is much better transportation than a car,” said Kline.
Durham investigators have not released a cause for Thursday’s crash.
Crash and Traffic Statistics
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | N.C. Highway 54 and Farrington Road, Durham |
| Time of Incident | Thursday |
| Lane Status | Reopened Friday |
| Injuries | Life-threatening |
| Daily Traffic | 43,000 drivers |
| Reported Crashes (2020-2024) | 40 crashes |
| Project Start Date | 2033 |
