Now What?

 

Now that the temporary bridge is done and N.C. 12 is open all the way down Hatteras, what happens next? Stay tuned to this blog, ncdot.gov and on Twitter @NCDOT_NC12 for updates and info on the next phase of the post-Hurricane Irene era for this iconic roadway.  In the meantime, we'll try to keep you updated on other events and news happening in and around the area.  Feel free to send us suggestions for how you'd like us to stay in touch!

A Step Forward: N.C. 12 Reopens

And It's Open!!

 

This was the scene on NC12 at Pea Island at about 6:00 p.m. yesterday! 

REOPENING TODAY!

We expect to be able to reopen NC 12 early evening today! More details as we get them!

It's next Tuesday!

Or maybe sooner!

N.C. 12 Update 10/05/2011 


 The N.C. Department of Transportation will reopen N.C. 12 no later than Tuesday, Oct. 11 after the road has been closed due to the damage caused by Hurricane Irene in August.

 “Our hope is to open before then, but right now we are confident work will be complete on or before the 11th”, said resident engineer Pablo Hernandez.  “We will open to road earlier if we can.”

 At the Rodanthe breach area, crews completed paving the asphalt base for the road patches south of the mid Pea Island breach and began grading the sand for the roadway embankment leading to the southern end of the bridge.

At the temporary bridge location on Pea Island, crews worked all night and into the early hours to set deck panels at the north end of the bridge after it was completely lowered onto the permanent bridge bearing supports.

The southern half of the bridge is in the process of being lowered onto the bearing supports. Crews still need to install six of the 12 bridge bearing supports, anchor the bridge in place and finish installing deck panels; however, the following items are complete at the temporary bridge location:

Piling: all 82 piles driven.
Sheet Piling Bulkhead: all 726 linear feet installed.
Concrete Footings: all 12 footings poured.
Bridge Truss Spans: all 662 linear feet placed.

More Milestones!

Over the weekend, crews checked off several key components of the temporary bridge installation over the breach on Pea Island, as you can see from the graphs at right.

There's still a considerable amount to go, however.  On the bridge, crews still need to install the bearing supports, lower and anchor the bridge in place, and install deck panels.

As we have been saying, completion of the bridge does not mean N.C. 12 can be reopened.  Paving must be completed around the bridge and the work on the portions of the highway near Rodanthe also must be finished. When that's completed, then N.C. 12 can be opened to traffic.  Unfortunately, the work that must be done now would be the most effected by bad weather of everything we've done so far.  So that's why we just can't name a specific date as to when the highway will be reopened.  Katia, and a Nor'easter have brought a significant amount of rain to the site, and extra crews were called in to keep things on track. Best we can say at this point is still early-mid October.

Folks have been asking us about Oct. 6 - that refers to Dare County's re-entry plan for Waves, Rodanthe and Salvo - NOT the reopening of N.C.12.  Here's the county's release on re-entry to those areas of Hatteras Island.

Bringing in Reinforcements

Crews on the NC 12 restoration project worked through the weekend and in the rain and they've made significant progress. Nonetheless, rain is forecast through this week, so our contractor partner Carolina Bridge Co. has called in an additional night crew, scheduled to begin tonight, to help make up for any lost time.

Check out today's NCDOT Now which features the NC 12 project this week.

Today's key stats:

Pilings
 
Bulkheads
 
Footings




Bridge Truss Spans

N.C. 12 Update 9/21/2011

At the Rodanthe breach area, crews continued hauling sand for dune construction and installed sand bags along the S-curves. Crews moved to south of the Pea Island breach to begin installing sand bags.

At the temporary bridge location on Pea Island, crews drove 8 piles at bent 3. At bent 2, crews set up the pile driving template and will begin driving piles soon. Bents are substructures supporting each end of the bridge span. Approximately 30 additional feet of the bridge was assembled Tuesday.

NCDOT estimates that the roadway could be fully reopened sometime in early October depending on weather conditions between now and then.

N.C. 12 RECOVERY PROJECT UPDATE FOR SEPT. 15

While N.C. 12 south of Nags Head remains closed due to damage caused by Hurricane Irene last month, NCDOT continues to make progress fixing the breaches and areas of over wash in order to improve and reopen the highway.

At the Rodanthe breach area, crews continue to stockpile sand for dune reconstruction and fill sandbags.

At the temporary bridge location on Pea Island, crews continued to drive piles at the north end. Crews also continued to preassemble and sort temporary bridge components. Yesterday afternoon, crews were able to move 4 loads of piles to the south end of the breach.

NCDOT estimates that the roadway could be fully reopened sometime in early October depending on weather conditions between now and then.

News for Dare County Visitors: Re-Entry Announced by Dare Officials

Dare County posted this yesterday evening:

Bulletin Number: 35


Date/Time: 9/12/2011 5:50:50 PM

Visitor Re-Entry for Portions of Hatteras Island Begins Thursday - See Important Details Below

VISITOR RE-ENTRY FOR AVON, BUXTON, FRISCO AND HATTERAS VILLAGE BEGINS ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 AT 7:00am VIA FERRY SERVICE FROM SWAN QUARTER OR CEDAR ISLAND ---

Visitor Re-entry for Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras Village begins on Thursday, September 15 at 7:00 a.m. via ferry service from Swan Quarter or Cedar Island. Visitors traveling to these Villages will only be allowed to enter the island by ferry service originating in Swan Quarter or Cedar Island through Ocracoke to the ferry docks at Hatteras Village. Visitors will not be permitted on the emergency ferry route from Stumpy Point to Rodanthe.

The ferry route from Swan Quarter or Cedar Island requires a reservation and there is a fee for a portion of the trip. To make a mandatory reservation, call 1-800-293-3779 (press 2) or online at www.ncferry.org Visitors are encouraged to make ferry reservations as soon as possible for both their departure trip AND return trip.

EMERGENCY FERRY SERVICE FROM STUMPY POINT TO RODANTHE

The emergency ferry, from Stumpy Point to Rodanthe, will continue to operate for critical personnel, insurance adjusters, vendors carrying essential commodities, residents, and non-resident property owners ONLY. Due to the heavy traffic demand this places on the Stumpy Point to Rodanthe ferries, visitors will not able to be accommodated on the emergency ferry route at this time.

Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 4:30 a.m., the Ferry Division will give boarding priority on the emergency ferries to vehicles carrying essential commodities. Commercial vehicles are urged to use the overnight ferry trips in order to avoid congestion.

UPDATED INFORMATION FOR RODANTHE, WAVES, SALVO VISITORS

Visitors with upcoming travel plans for the villages of Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo are advised that visitor re-entry will not begin until a future date, sometime after Thursday, September 29.

Visitors with travel plans to Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo over the next couple of weeks should seek accommodations elsewhere in Dare County, north of Oregon Inlet. If you need help finding lodging, contact the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau at 1-877-629-4386 or visit www.outerbanks.

IMPORTANT RECOVERY INFORMATION – Online 24 hours per day at www.darenc.com

###