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NCDOT: Sandbags will add a layer of protection for N.C. 12

Workers began repairing dunes and installing sandbags on Friday along a vulnerable 1,100-foot stretch of N.C. 12 as a temporary solution to protect the highway from ocean overwash caused by extreme tides and storms.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation reports that the project, near the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge visitor center, is meant to mitigate the type of overwash that caused the highway to be closed for a short period in mid-November. It will also add a layer of protection for the road itself, helping to prevent the type of undermining that could damage the pavement and cause a long-term shutdown of the only roadway link between the mainland and Hatteras Island.

“We know this is only a temporary fix,” said N.C. Department of Transportation division engineer Win Bridgers. “But it’s vital for us to do everything we can to keep N.C. 12 open and accessible while we seek a more permanent solution.”

The sandbag project is estimated to take about a week to complete, with alternating single-lane closures in the area while the work is ongoing. The total cost of the project is $400,000.

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