Local

Drivers stuck for hours after tractor-trailer fire shuts down I-77 in Huntersville

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Interstate 77 northbound near Gilead Road in Huntersville is back open after being shut down for hours when a tractor-trailer overturned and caught fire.

All lanes were closed just after 12 a.m. because of the accident.

The right hand lane reopened just after 4 a.m. and the entire stretch of highway reopened just after 5:30 a.m.

[RELATED: Crashes up since I-77 toll construction began]

Officials said the tractor-trailer hit the barricades along the interstate, overturned and caught fire.

Just before 2 a.m., Huntersville firefighters and other crews were able to extinguish the flames.

Officials had to bring in new guardrails and walls.

Huntersville firefighters cleared just after 2:45 a.m. and said they handed the scene over to I-77 Mobility Partners and the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

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