RODANTHE – N.C. 12 remains closed between the Marc Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe, as a September nor’easter continues to cause major ocean overwash on a damaged section of the road near the Pea Island Visitor Center.
The N.C. Department of Transportation closed the highway early Thursday morning after extreme tides broke through protective sand dunes and covered, then undermined, the roadway.
About 500 feet of asphalt has been damaged, and road crews are in the process of assessing the extent of the damage and needed repairs. Meanwhile, the storm is likely to cause continued overwash during the next several high tide cycles before conditions improve Saturday.
At this point, there is no estimate as to when the road will reopen. Travelers should monitor DriveNC.gov or the N.C. 12 Facebook page for updates.