Description

The NC 12 Transportation Improvements include six projects in Dare and Hyde counties:

• The Northern Pea Island "hot spot" (TIP No. R-3116 F) begins south of Oregon Inlet and extends 2.5 miles to just beyond the ponds at the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge (PINWR). Planning studies for this project are currently on hold and are not expected to be implemented, since the preferred alternative for the Bonner Bridge replacement project (TIP No. B-2500) provides a long-term solution to protecting NC12 from overwash.
• The Old Sandbag Area "hot spot" (TIP No. R-3116 E) begins near the Visitor's Center at PINWR and extends south to the PINWR Ranger Station. Planning studies for this project are currently on hold and are not expected to be implemented, since the preferred alternative for the Bonner Bridge replacement project (TIP No. B-2500) provides a long-term solution to protecting NC12 from overwash.
• The Rodanthe 'S' Curves "hot spot" (TIP No. R-3116 D) begins approximately two miles north of SR 1495 and extends south to SR 1492. Planning studies for this project are currently on hold and are not expected to be implemented, since the preferred alternative for the Bonner Bridge replacement project (TIP No. B-2500) provides a long-term solution to protecting NC12 from overwash.
• The Buxton/Canadian Hole hot spot (TIP No. R-4070 B) begins near SR 1231 in Buxton and extends north approximately 4.7 miles to SR 1421. A portion of NC 12 in this area was relocated shortly after Hurricane Dennis in 1999, but flooding and overwash still occur at the north and south ends.
• The Hatteras Village "hot spot" (TIP No. R-3116 B) begins near SR 1272 in Hatteras Village and extends north 1.7 miles.
• The Ocracoke Island "hot spot" (TIP No. R-3116 A) begins just south of the Hatteras ferry terminal continues 4 miles southward on Ocracoke Island.

News and Updates

NCDOT is currently developing preliminary designs for each of the design options under consideration for projects R-3116A (Ocracoke) and R-3116B (Hatteras Village). Environmental studies to quantify and document the potential impacts to natural resources, local communities and the Outer Banks are also underway. The results of these studies will be published in environmental documents that will be available to the public for comment.

NCDOT plans to host a series of open-house workshops that will provide the public with a chance to talk about the projects with NCDOT staff and to offer comments. Once the schedule for the workshops has been determined, it will be announced in the local media and posted here.

Please continue to check this site for updates on the NC 12 Transportation Improvements.

Project Overview and Purpose

NC 12 is the lifeline for the communities on Hatteras and Ocracoke Island, connecting the islands to each other and to the mainland of North Carolina. Island residents depend on the roadway for off-island community services, such as hospitals, emergency response, and waste collection. NC 12 is also the primary evacuation route for all permanent and temporary residents on the islands when severe weather is approaching.

Storms frequently cause the ocean to overwash NC 12 and deposit large quantities of sand over portions of the roadway. The storms sometimes damage the NC 12 roadway itself, interrupting access and services to the island and placing severe hardships on island residents. The worse the damage to NC 12, the longer it takes the NCDOT to repair the roadway. Longer repair times increase delays in using NC 12 and increase the hardship to residents needing access through the island and to the mainland. NC 12 must be continually repaired and maintained to prevent permanent loss of access on Hatteras Island.

In 1991, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) sponsored research to identify specific sections of North Carolina's coastal highways in critical need of improvements. The research concluded that six sections of NC 12 on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands frequently need extensive maintenance due to severe storm and erosion damage. These critical sections, or "hot spots," include Northern Pea Island, Old Sandbag Area, the Rodanthe 'S' Curves, Buxton/Canadian Hole, Hatteras Village, and Ocracoke. These "hot spots" are now the focus of several environmental studies.

The primary purposes of the proposed projects are to implement interim measures to maintain the integrity and viability of a transportation system (movement of people, goods and services) with minimal interruption of traffic service.

Project Photos

Contact Information

Resources for Local Property Owners

In many cases, it is inevitable that a certain amount of private property must be acquired. The displacement of homes and businesses is minimized to the extent practicable. The following brochures will answer questions about this process.