Hatteras Island Cut Off
Nor'easter Severely Damages NC 12 Highway and Cuts Off Hatteras Island Road Access
Anonymous
A nor’easter severely damaged about 1,000 feet of N.C. Highway 12 near Pea Island, closing the road between the Marc Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe and cutting off road access to Hatteras Island. Dare County declared a state of emergency and restricted entry to residents, emergency responders and essential personnel, barring visitors and nonresident property owners. An emergency ferry route between Stumpy Point and Rodanthe is operating around the clock with three vessels to transport people and supplies; trips take about two hours, and long waits are expected. NCDOT is assessing the damage and plans to build a temporary roadway when conditions allow, but has provided no timeline for reopening the highway. Highway 12 also remains closed on northern Ocracoke because of overwash, while ferry service between Ocracoke Village and the mainland continues.
Key Points
1
The Stumpy Point–Rodanthe emergency ferry route had not been used since December 2013, when erosion near the old Bonner Bridge forced a 10-day highway closure; it was activated during Hurricanes Irene and Sandy as well.
2
Near the Pea Island Visitor Center, an initial assessment found about 500 feet of pavement undermined or broken before crews could complete a fuller inspection.
3
The storm pushed seawater across the Outer Banks during repeated high-tide cycles around the full moon, contributing to the damage.
4
The first emergency ferry reached Stumpy Point shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday fully loaded; each ferry can carry an average of 25 vehicles, and officials urged people who did not urgently need to leave the island to wait for another day.
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