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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) – in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative (CHEC) – has agreed after recent negotiations to accommodate the delayed removal of a roadbed and sandbags along a 1.8 mile stretch of NC Highway 12 that will be bypassed by the new Rodanthe bridge.

Th stretch of roadway traverses the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge.

A statement released Wednesday said the agencies have evaluated flexibilities and have found a workable scenario that allows for the delay until the end of the 2022 hurricane season. The road removal was originally slated for completion this spring.

“Delaying this removal until November 30 will give CHEC both protection and access to its existing transmission lines that provide electricity to all of Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands,” said Susan Flythe, CHEC general manager and EVP in a prepared media release. “It will also provide protection and access to the fiber optic cable owned by Lumen Technologies, which is buried in the easement from USFWS and provides internet and communications for the islands.”

“The Service is pleased to be able to offer this solution for CHEC to help ensure access to this critical infrastructure while cable installation on the bridge is completed,” said Rebekah Martin, project leader of the Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuge Complex. “We remain committed to working with NCDOT and CHEC and appreciate our long-standing and positive relationship with both partners.”

Vehicular public access to the old road will be prohibited to ensure public safety, as it will be an active work area. The north end will be secured with a locked gate. Around 200 to 500 feet of asphalt will be removed initially on the southern end. All asphalt and sandbags will be removed by November 30, 2022.

“CHEC and NCDOT will also work to expedite the schedule to install the cable, hanger and conduit system on the new bridge. CHEC is currently working to install a new transmission line on the Rodanthe bridge and originally expected to complete the project by the end of this year,” stated the announcement by CHEC. “With the expedited schedule allowing CHEC to continue on-bridge work through the summer, the new line will be installed in a timely manner that coincides with the removal of the current roadway and sandbags at the end of hurricane season.”

Once traffic is shifted onto the bridge, the continued work to install the utility equipment will require minor traffic delays during daylight hours. Updates on the timing of delays will be available at DriveNC.gov.

For project updates and photos, visit ncdot.gov/projects/nc-12-rodanthe or chec.coop/rodanthebridge.

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