NORTH CAROLINA — The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced the closure of N.C. Highway 12 south of the Marc Basnight Bridge to Hatteras Village late Wednesday evening as Hurricane Erin’s powerful storm surge caused extensive flooding and dangerous conditions along the Outer Banks.
The closure affects a critical stretch of roadway in Dare County that serves as the primary access route for several barrier island communities. Highway officials also closed the northern section of N.C. 12 on Ocracoke Island between the National Park Service Pony Pens and the Ferry Terminal due to similar overwash conditions.
Multiple areas along the highway experienced significant ocean overwash, with the most severely affected locations including areas north of Hatteras Village, Buxton, and Rodanthe. The storm surge has breached protective dunes in several locations, sending saltwater across the roadway and creating hazardous driving conditions.
“Conditions are too unsafe for motorists,” transportation officials stated in their closure announcement. Weather forecasters are predicting that Thursday’s high tide cycles could bring even more severe overwash conditions to the already battered coastal highway.
NCDOT road crews are currently working to clear debris and assess damage where conditions permit. The crews will continue monitoring the situation through Thursday morning’s high tide cycle to determine the extent of additional overwash issues.
The highway closure effectively cuts off vehicle access to several Outer Banks communities that rely on N.C. 12 as their primary transportation lifeline. The road regularly experiences closures during significant coastal storms due to its location on low-lying barrier islands vulnerable to storm surge and ocean overwash.
Transportation officials emphasized that the highway will remain closed until conditions are deemed safe for travel. No timeline has been provided for when the road might reopen.
Travelers seeking current road conditions and closure information can visit DriveNC.gov or follow the North Carolina Department of Transportation on social media platforms for real-time updates.
Hurricane Erin continues to impact the North Carolina coast with dangerous storm surge, high winds, and flooding conditions across the Outer Banks region.
