Tanger Traffic Trouble

The crowds at Tanger Outlets were larger than expected Friday, leading to traffic problems on Mebane Oaks Road and I-40/85.

"It's crazy," said Ron Clapp who came from Greensboro. "I've never seen this kind of traffic in Mebane before." Clapp estimates he spent about 11 minutes waiting at the stoplight at the top of the ramp off of the northbound lanes of the interstate.

The parking lot filled up between 9:30 and 10am, forcing the North Carolina Highway Patrol to take action after traffic started to back up on the I-40/85.

"We hate to discourage people from coming, but there was nowhere to put them," said 1st Sgt. CJ Slemenda. "So we closed the exit ramps down to clear this intersection and hopefully clear the interstate before we had a major incident on the interstate."

Many shoppers even resorted to parking off the property.

"I had to find a parking space over in the shopping center by the grocery store," said Ebony Harvey who came from Morrisville. "I had to come across the highway [Mebane Oaks Road] and just walk down to the Tanger Outlets."

Harvey said 40 minutes passed from when she exited the interstate to when she found a parking space.

Authorities are expecting similar crowds on Saturday and warn shoppers that exit 154 may need to be closed again. Shoppers are advised to call 511 for information or to read the overhead electric signs on their way to the shopping center.

SOURCE: WFMY NEWS 2, digtriad.com