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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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-
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Additional resources are:
Please make sure to print this information to bring with you when traveling.