‘Someone’s going to get injured:’ Rocks piling up at Brunswick County intersection

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Piles of loose rocks are causing concern at one Brunswick County intersection. 

15-year-resident Jonathan Burton said trucks coming from the Martin Marietta Leland Rail Yard are failing to secure their loads of rocks. 

That’s causing rocks to pile up at the intersection of US 74 and Malmo Loop Road NE. 

Burton said his household alone has sustained three cracked windshields and chipped paint on their cars because of the rocks being kicked up. He said several neighbors have also experienced broken or cracked windshields.  

“They’re throwing them on other vehicles, they’re throwing them, you know, and eventually someone’s going to get injured. It’s especially dangerous for motorcycles,” Burton explained. 

Burton contacted Martin Marietta about the issue but was told by the company that the rocks are the truck drivers’ responsibility, not the quarry. 

Burton added State Highway Patrol has stationed near the intersection, but that the rocks continue to cause issues. 

“The troopers have been resilient at trying to enforce the law. Unfortunately, it just keeps occurring over and over again and the plant doesn’t want to accept the responsibility of the truck drivers from a multitude of different companies that don’t stop or clean it up after there’s a spill,” he said. 

WWAY reached out to State Highway Patrol. The agency confirmed it’s the truck drivers’ responsibility to secure their load per state law.  

We also reached out to the NCDOT, who said crews will occasionally clear the road to reduce hazard to drivers. 

Burton noted before the quarry moved down the road several years ago, the previous operating company would regularly sweep the road. He said although state law might not require it, he hopes the quarry will restart the practice in the future. 

“In my opinion, the plant should have a means of cleaning up the rock when it’s spilled on the roadway,” he said. 

WWAY reached out to Martin Marietta for comment, but we have not heard back as of Monday evening.