Project Overview
We Want to Hear from You
NCDOT is seeking your input regarding the Solving Access for N.C. 12 in Dare County (SAND) Plan.
An 11-mile stretch in Dare County, between the Marc Basnight Bridge and the Rodanthe “Jug Handle” Bridge, has experienced repeated storm damage and periodic closures.
To address these issues, the N. C. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration , in partnership with other federal and local agencies (National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dare County), are developing the Solving Access for N.C. 12 in Dare County (SAND) Plan using federal grant funding. The plan aims to improve reliable access along the corridor.
The team is using the Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) process to streamline future environment reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act . Building on previous efforts such as the N.C. 12 Task Force and past National Environmental Policy Act reviews, the SAND Plan will evaluate practical solutions based on environmental and community considerations, cost, and feasibility. The goal is to identify improvements that will reduce travel disruptions and provide both long and short-term transportation solutions.
Public Meeting Summary – April 2026
In April 2026, the N.C. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration conducted three public meetings, hosted an
online survey, and accepted comments from residents, visitors, business owners, property owners, and other stakeholders. A summary of the public input received during this first engagement period is
now available.
Thank you for your continued participation and feedback. NCDOT will have updates on the status of the project and more information about public meetings, planned for Nov.
17-
18, 2026. We hope to see you there.
Project Funding
This project is listed as Project HO-0020 in the
N.C. Department of Transportation's State Transportation Improvement Program and is funded for $1.865 million through the USDOT's Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) grant program.
*Estimated costs subject to change