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NC 12 will remain closed from Oregon Inlet to the village of Rodanthe for the rest of the day Wednesday, May 11, 2022 due to safety concerns surrounding the severity of the next two high tide cycles, according to a press release from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

“A stationary low pressure system has brought strong winds and large waves to the Outer Banks for the last four days, covering the highway with sand and deep ocean overwash at the Pea Island Visitor Center and the ‘S-Curves’ just north of Rodanthe,” stated the release. “Conditions at other locations on N.C. 12 between Rodanthe and Hatteras Village continue to be passable but difficult, with sand and standing ocean water at several locations.”

NCDOT crews are aiming to reopen the road by mid-morning Thursday, depending on the amount of overwash added by the high tide cycles during the day and overnight. Crews have rebuilt a protective berm and sand dunes to prevent the road from being undermined and to minimize potential new ocean overwash. Those efforts will continue Wednesday and into Thursday as conditions allow.

The weather forecast calls for slowly improving conditions beginning Wednesday night into Thursday.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.

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