Officials are developing a
plan that aims to improve access to N.C. 12, which experiences closures and
maintenance challenges due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the
Pamlico Sound.
RALEIGH – People are invited to attend upcoming public meetings to learn more about a plan that aims to improve public access to N.C. 12, the Outer Banks’ main highway.
A vulnerable, 11-mile stretch of N.C. 12 in Dare County experiences closures and maintenance challenges from repeated storm damage because it’s bordered closely on either side by the Atlantic Ocean and the Pamlico Sound.
In response, a team of state, federal and local officials are developing the Solving Access for N.C. 12 in Dare County (SAND) Plan to evaluate short- and long-term solutions to reduce travel disruptions between the Marc Basnight Bridge and the Rodanthe “Jug Handle” Bridge.
The N.C. Department of Transportation is leading the development of the SAND Plan with assistance from the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service and other federal and local agencies. Their work began in January.
The plan aims to minimize environmental impacts and account for community considerations and the costs and feasibility of those solutions. As a part of this, the team is using the Planning and Environment Linkages process to streamline future environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act and engage public and community stakeholders. By addressing environmental requirements in the planning stages, project managers can avoid having to duplicate studies and tackle major environmental hurdles that could delay projects and increase the costs to deliver them.
The SAND project is funded with $1.86 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost Saving Transportation, or PROTECT, grant program.
Public meetings
Public input will be important to the process as feedback will be considered as the plan is developed. The NCDOT and its partnering agencies scheduled the following informational meetings so people can drop in between 5:30-7:30 p.m.:
- April 28 at the Hatteras Civic Center, 56658 N.C. 12, Hatteras
- April 29 at the Rodanthe Waves Salvo Community Building, 23646 N.C. 12, Rodanthe
- April 30 at Jennette’s Pier, 7223 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head
NCDOT representatives will be available to answer questions, facilitate public surveys, and receive comments during the meetings. People can submit written comments at a public meeting or by calling at 984-205-6615 and entering project code 2463, by email at nc-12-access@ncdot.gov or on NCDOT’s public input portal. Comments during this round of engagement must be provided by May 15. Additional public meetings will be held in the summer and fall. More information can be found on NCDOT’s public meeting website.