Travel and Storm Updates

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 11:30 a.m.

Contact: Dorothy Toolan

252-473-8328

One Lane NC Highway 12 Open to All Traffic

All vehicles, including trucks and non four wheel drive automobiles, can travel on NC Highway 12 north of Rodanthe. North Carolina DOT has provided one lane passage through the area on a 24 hour basis.

A temporary portable traffic signal will direct vehicles through this one lane section. Motorists should expect slow downs through the area. A work zone has been designated 1/2 mile north and south of the vicinity and no parking is permitted.

This one lane for all vehicles replaces the temporary four wheel drive route that had been in use since Sunday due to sand and overwash from last week’s nor’easter.

All Ferry routes and schedules have resumed their normal operation. For further information on ferry operations, visit www.ncferry.org or call 1-800-293-3779 (1-800-BY-FERRY).

Updates will be issued as needed by Dare County Emergency Management and posted on-line at www.darenc.com and on Cable Channel 20.

 

Dare County Bulletin Number: 11

Date/Time: 11/16/2009 3:45:33 PM

Update Regarding Hatteras Island Access

NC Highway 12 remains closed to regular traffic north of Rodanthe. NC DOT is working to re-establish the link as soon as possible.

At this time, there are three ways to access Hatteras Island.

Temporary ferry service has been established between Rodanthe - (Myrna Peters Road by the Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Building) and Stumpy Point (US 264, approximately 1/2 mile west of entrance to the village) and will begin operating on Tuesday morning, November 17. Priority may be given to emergency vehicles and essential service providers.

Stumpy Point daily departure times are 6:30 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

Rodanthe daily departures are 6:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Ferry service is also available from Swan Quarter through Ocracoke. For more information, call the Ferry Division at 1-800-293-3779 and then press 1 or visit www.ncferry.org

The special one lane travel route for four wheel drive vehicles in the Mirlo Beach area of Rodanthe is available 24 hours a day. Use of this route is for essential travel only and will be available for use until regular service is restored. Passage through this area is subject to the following restrictions -

Only four wheel drive vehicles will be allowed to use the special route.

Travel is one lane only. Be prepared to wait for on-coming traffic to clear.

May be restricted due to weather, construction or emergency vehicles.

The area 1/2 mile north and south to the entrance of the temporary travel route has been declared a work zone. No parking is permitted in this area.

Further updates will be issued as needed by Dare County Emergency Management and posted on-line at www.darenc.com and on Cable Channel 20.

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National Park Service News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DATE: November 16, 2009
CONTACT: Cyndy Holda, 252-473-2111, ext. 148
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Beach Access Update

The strong nor’easter that swept up the East Coast over the weekend has left impressive after effects in its path on the beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Park visitors and ORV users will encounter noticeable differences in ocean beach and dune conditions and caution is advised.

Standing water, which may be saline, brackish or fresh, sometimes over a foot deep, may be found in many locations with deep gullies draining inland areas which create unpredictable, and sometimes unsafe terrain for travel. Natural vegetative debris, such as uprooted trees and beach grasses, as well as debris from destroyed boardwalks and structures, are deposited on the beach following a wind/water event of such a sustained nature. Beach travelers will encounter such debris on the beaches in all areas and extreme caution should be used.

The following beach access ramps are open for ORV use.

Bodie Island District:
Ramp 2, 4, and 23 are all open and passable with some debris.

Hatteras Island District:
Ramp 27, 30, 34, 38, 43, 49, 55 are all open and passable with some debris.
Ramp 43 has standing water but is accessible. Cape Point is accessible via Ramp 43.

Ramp 44 and 45 are closed. Salt Pond Road is flooded and remains closed. The Interdunal Road between Ramp 44 and 45 is flooded and closed.The Salt Pond outflow, approximately 300 yards west of Cape Point, is draining water from the area and travel through the outflow is not recommended.

South of Ramp 55, the Pole Road is closed due to flooded conditions. Cable Crossing access is closed. Access to Hatteras Inlet and the Spur Road are accessible by traveling south from Ramp 55 on the ocean beach.

Ocracoke Island District:
Ramp 59, 67, 68 and 70 are all open and passable with some debris. Ramp 72 is closed due to flooded conditions. The last remaining turtle nest on the Ocracoke Island is located just south of Ramp 70 and blocks through access to Ramp 72. The nest, which is past its hatch date (day 90), was checked Monday morning, November 16th and it is still an active nest with viable eggs inside. The nest is expected to hatch this week with the predicted warmer, sunny days ahead.

-NPS-

Dare County Bulletin Number: 10

Date/Time: 11/15/2009 4:46:33 PM

Hours Extended for Four Wheel Drive Route to Hatteras Island

NC Highway 12 remains closed to regular traffic north of Rodanthe; however, the special one lane travel route for four wheel drive vehicles in the Mirlo Beach area of Rodanthe will be available 24 hours a day. Use of this route is for essential travel only and will be available for use until regular service is restored. Passage through this area is subject to the following restrictions -

Only four wheel drive vehicles will be allowed to use the special route.

Travel is one lane only. Be prepared to wait for on-coming traffic to clear.

May be restricted due to weather, construction or emergency vehicles.

The area 1/2 mile north and south to the entrance of the temporary travel route has been declared a work zone. No parking is permitted in this area.

Residents and visitors should consider using the alternate route to Hatteras Island by ferry from Swan Quarter through Ocracoke. For more information call the Ferry Division at 1-800-293-3779 and then press 1. Or visit www.ncferry.org

Further updates will be issued as needed by Dare County Emergency Management and posted on-line at www.darenc.com and on Cable Channel 20.

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Dare County Bulletin Number: 9

Date/Time: 11/15/2009 11:37:44 AM

Hatteras Island Update

All of Hatteras Island continues to be under a declared State of Emergency. NC Highway 12 remains closed to regular traffic north of Rodanthe.

North Carolina DOT has opened a special one lane travel route for four wheel drive vehicles in the Mirlo Beach area of Rodanthe. Use of this route is for essential travel only and will be available for daily use until regular service is restored. Passage through this area is subject to the following restrictions -

Only four wheel drive vehicles will be allowed to use the special route.

Travel is one lane only. Be prepared to wait for on-coming traffic to clear.

May be restricted due to weather, construction or emergency vehicles.

Travel will only be permitted during daylight hours - Beginning one hour after sunrise & ending one hour before sunset.

The area 1/2 mile north and south to the entrance of the temporary travel route has been declared a work zone. No parking is permitted in this area.

Residents and visitors should consider using the alternate route to Hatteras Island by ferry from Swan Quarter through Ocracoke. For more information call the Ferry Division at 1-800-293-3779 and then press 1. Or visit www.ncferry.org

Formal damage assessments for Hatteras Island will begin Monday, November 16.

Regularly scheduled trash pick-up for Hatteras Island will resume on Monday. However, service will start earlier than usual on Monday, beginning at midnight.

A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect until 9:00pm this evening. There is also a High Surf Advisory until 4:00pm this afternoon. Through this evening a high threat of rip currents exists for the area.

Further updates will be issued as needed by Dare County Emergency Management and posted on-line at www.darenc.com and on Cable Channel 20

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Dare County Bulletin Number: 8

Date/Time: 11/15/2009 9:37:14 AM

Four Wheel Drive Route Established for Hatteras Island

All of Hatteras Island continues to be under a declared State of Emergency. NC Highway 12 remains closed to regular traffic north of Rodanthe.

North Carolina DOT will open a special one lane travel route for four wheel drive vehicles in the Mirlo Beach area of Rodanthe at 11:00am today. Use of this route is for essential travel only and will be available for daily use until regular service is restored.

Passage through this area is subject to the following restrictions -

Only four wheel drive vehicles will be allowed to transit the area.

Travel will be one lane only. Be prepared to wait until on-coming traffic is cleared.

Travel may be restricted at anytime due to weather conditions, construction or emergency vehicles.

Travel will only be permitted during daylight hours, beginning one hour after sunrise and ending one hour before sunset.

The area 1/2 mile north and south to the entrance of the temporary travel route has been declared a work zone. No parking will be permitted along the shoulders of the road in the area.

Residents and visitors should consider using the alternate route to Hatteras Island by ferry from Swan Quarter through Ocracoke. For more information call the Ferry Division at 1-800-293-3779 and then press 1. Or visit their website at www.ncferry.org

 

Additional resources are:

Please make sure to print this information to bring with you when traveling.

 

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