After being closed since Sunday due to ocean overwash from a powerful nor’easter, N.C. 12 between Oregon Inlet and Rodanthe will reopened to traffic Tuesday afternoon.
Drivers should use caution as there is still sand and ocean water standing on the roadway, and N.C. Department of Transportation crews continue to work to rebuild the dunes that protect the highway at multiple spots on Pea Island.
The ferries serving Ocracoke-Hatteras, Ocracoke-Cedar Island and Ocracoke-Swan Quarter have all been reopened on the following regular schedules:
Hatteras-Ocracoke: 6 a.m., 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., midnight
Ocracoke-Hatteras: 4:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Cedar Island-Ocracoke: 10:30 a.m., 4 p.m.
Ocracoke-Cedar Island: 7:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
Swan Quarter-Ocracoke: 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
Ocracoke-Swan Quarter: 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Officials plan to reopen NC 12 at 1 p.m. today. NC12 from Marc Basnight Bridge to Rodanthe has been closed since Sunday morning, due to ocean overwash from storm. Drive safely as standing water and sand are still on NC12. For conditions, check here or https://t.co/QO3Vrvj1kk pic.twitter.com/qYlAdRjHTE
— NCDOT NC12 (@NCDOT_NC12) November 9, 2021
Just some minor overwash was reported on Hatteras Island with high tide around 11 a.m.
Minor coastal flooding continued along the soundside on Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands, and particularly south of Cape Hatteras, but water levels were not as high as Sunday and Monday.
Highway 12 closed on Sunday between Rodanthe and Oregon Inlet, and has remained closed over the past two days, due to breeched dunes and multiple cycles of ocean overwash.
The Island Free Press reported standing water was on several stretches of N.C. Highway 12 where ocean overwash has occurred over the past two days, and specifically in northern Buxton, Avon, and the Muirlo Beach area of Rodanthe. Residents and visitors are advised to drive slowly through areas of standing water, as saltwater can damage vehicles.
The coastal storm has moved away from the Outer Banks area, and weather conditions will continue to improve on Tuesday with warmer than normal temperatures. For more information on the local forecast, visit www.weather.gov/mhx for general weather information, or the National Weather Service office in Newport / Morehead City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.
