Time and Tide - Watch the Charts

The 4WD access section on N.C. 12 near the S-curves can be closed intermittently because of of overwash.  The overwash is largely the result of surf, surge and winds from the storms headed our way.  Low tide times is when the road is most likely to be affected and close.  Keeping up with the tide chart can help you plan your trip.

NC12 For Facebook

We've created a new NC 12 Facebook page to help keep all the information about the weather's effects on NC 12 in one place.  Please visit the page and take a "liking" to it!

Sandy and Nor'Easter Athena Batter the OBX; NC 12 Reopens to 4WD

Late season storms have not been kind to N.C. 12 and the Outer Banks this year.  As if Hurricane Sandy wasn't enough, a November Nor'Easter - dubbed "Athena" by The Weather Channel got in the way as NCDOT tried to repair the damage caused by Sandy.

On Saturday, Nov. 10, four-wheel drive vehicles were able to travel along N.C. 12 on Pea Island after N.C. Department of Transportation crews opened an emergency access route for them. This marks the first time NCDOT has opened the highway to residents and visitors since damage from Hurricane Sandy forced the closure of N.C. 12 from south of the Bonner Bridge to Rodanthe on Oct. 28.

The route offers one lane in each direction, except at the temporary bridge and the Bonner Bridge, where it narrows to a single lane for vehicles traveling in both directions. The department placed temporary traffic signals at each bridge to regulate traffic flow safely.


View Nor'easter Athena and NC 12 - Access in a larger map

If you're going to use the route, just keep these safety tips in mind:

• Only  four-wheel drive vehicles with a high ground clearance should use the route. Cross-over four-wheel drive vehicles that are lower to the ground may get stuck in the rugged terrain;
• If you drive at night, use extreme caution. There will be no lights staged along the route, so your vehicle’s headlights will offer the only way for you to see;
• Drive slowly; 
• Pay close attention to the four temporary traffic signals.

Although N.C. 12 is open to four-wheel drive access, repair work on the highway continues in Kitty Hawk, the Bonner Bridge and across Pea Island. Heavy equipment and crews will work during daylight hours to fix the damaged pavement, move sand off the highway and reconstruct dunes.

NCDOT urges motorists to be aware that are traveling through an active work zone and use caution to ensure that they, as well as construction crews, remain safe.

Kudos for the Ferries!

We are very proud of our Ferry Division and its staff for their efforts during and after Hurricane Irene, when Hatteras Island was cut off from the rest of the world because of damage to N.C. 12.

Last month, they were recognized for their dedication during the emergency by the U.S. Coast Guard.  The special commendation for Outstanding Humanitarian Response details the hurricane and the results of “widespread destruction” including the breaches on N.C. 12and how critical ferry service was during that crisis.


Congrats to all our ferry personnel!!

Bonner Bridge Repairs Start Today

Our crews started making repairs this morning on the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge, which carries N.C. 12 over Oregon Inlet in Dare County. They will repair, clean and paint the steel girders that make up three spans of the high-rise portion of the bridge over the main channel. Crews will cut out deteriorating sections of the girders and replace them with new steel. Once the new steel is in place, they will paint it to protect it from the elements. How do you work on a bridge, over  an  inlet? Our workers will stand on decking placed under the bridge. Special tarps will catch any of the old paint that falls off the bridge during the project  to protect the environment. The decking will reduce the vertical clearance for vessels traveling through the navigational channel in the Oregon Inlet from 65 feet to 61 feet. The N.C. Department of Transportation is working with the U.S. Coast Guard to inform mariners of the temporary change. The work was originally scheduled to start last September but it was postponed until this week because of the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. Weather permitting, the work is should be complete by May 22. The repair work will close one lane along a one-quarter mile section of the bridge over the main channel. During the first few days of the project, the lane closure will be in place during daylight hours only. Following that period, it will go into effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Look for  portable traffic signals to guide motorists through the work zone. If you're headed that way, be sure to allow  additional time to reach your destination and go slow and pay attention in the work zone. Astron General Contractors  is working with NCDOT on the $741,000 project.

Temporary Bridge Repair Update: Getting Close to Wrapping Up

NCDOT crews have finished the guardrail work affecting traffic on the N.C.12 temporary bridge. This afternoon,the permanent metal guardrail was installed. Work continues dredging sand to the south side of the inlet to reinforce the shoreline and to anchor the armor stone protecting the bridge. If the weather hold outs this weekend and next week, work will begin to fill approximately 100 sand bags which will be placed between the new sheet piling. The sand bags are five feet wide, 15 feet long & two feet tall. It's possible that next week, we may have to close a lane over the bridge for a small portion of a day or two while we load equipment necessary to finish the job.

Update of Repairs to the Temporary Bridge - with Photos

As of yesterday afternoon, approximately 2,500 tons of armor rock have been placed around the bridge. The tides and currents have been favorable, allowing the rock to be installed against the new sheet pile that extends into the water from the south end of the bridge. More rock is needed against the existing sheet pile on the west side. Rock placement is also underway at the end of the new sheet pile on the east side.

Weather and tide permitting, the rock placement could be complete next week. Temporary lane closures began January 18th near the temporary bridge so crews could install protective measures to prevent erosion near the south end of the bridge.

More photos of the repair work on Flickr