By Sam Walker, SamWalkerOBXNews.com
Ocean overwash during Tuesday afternoon’s high tide eroded parts of a newly rebuilt dune near the Pea Island Visitor Center, keeping N.C. 12 closed between the Marc Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe with no reopening timetable.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation said waves damaged sections of the protective dune crews had completed earlier Tuesday. Additional heavy equipment was being used to haul stockpiled sand and reinforce the dune in front of the visitor center.
“High winds and waves from the nor’easter have been relentless,” NCDOT said in its afternoon update.
With higher tides forecast Wednesday, Oct. 21, the agency said it remains uncertain when the highway can reopen. Crews will reassess conditions after high tides and provide updates.
The closure began about 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, after ocean overwash breached protective dunes and flooded the highway. Earlier Tuesday, Dare County reported that NCDOT had found no pavement damage at the visitor center and was rebuilding about 1,000 feet of dunes lost overnight.
N.C. 12 remains open from Rodanthe through Hatteras village and on Ocracoke Island, NCDOT said. No overwash had been reported Tuesday on Ocracoke.
Between Hatteras village and Frisco, ocean water seeped through a dune and left 1 to 4 inches of standing water on N.C. 12. High-water signs are in place.
NCDOT urged motorists to stay out of flooded roads and never drive around closure signs or barricades.
Dare County’s state of emergency for Hatteras Island remains in place, along with the mandatory evacuation order for visitors. Visitors are prohibited from entering the island.
