Patrol, DMV offices move temporarily
By Lee Williams
Published in News on August 2, 2007 1:45 PM
The Highway Patrol and North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles office on Grantham Street were forced to relocate for one month as crews work to replace old tile floors that allegedly have asbestos in them.
Asbestos is a fiber largely used in the past for fireproofing. The fibers are easily inhaled and are linked to a rare form of cancer called mesothelioma.
The Highway Patrol office relocated to a trailer located in the front of the property at 701 W. Grantham St. on Monday. The DMV temporarily moved to an office on Ash Street. The offices will operate during normal business hours. However, services offered at the Highway Patrol will be limited due to space constraints.
Highway patrol officials say those who need to pick up a crash report can still drop by the office. But those who need to review reports for local chiropractors or attorneys will have to make an appointment.
State transportation officials said they closed the offices to ensure the safety of the public while the old tiles that have asbestos in them are replaced.
An asbestos abatement team will be used to ensure the public's safety.
"It's perfectly safe unless they start drilling and moving it around," said a DOT employee at the Raleigh office, who asked not to be identified.
He said the building has to be sealed and the air has to be pumped in and pumped out. This is why the building will be closed temporarily.
"They don't want to leave nothing to chance," he said.
Asbestos was often used because of its fire and heat resistance for the past hundred years, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services Epidemiology Section's Web site.
For more information, call the Highway Patrol at 731-7961 or the DMV at 731-7963.