Brigands Bay

10/03/2026

Here's some GREAT NEWS for your Saturday: We will be opening NC12 at the Pea Island Visitor Center to two-lane, unrestricted traffic by the end of the day TODAY! Thank you for your patience while we made the needed repairs.

10/01/2026

09/29/2026

09/29/2026

N.C. 12 on Pea Island to Reopen to Northbound Traffic Today Ahead of Schedule

The Outer Banks highway has been closed since a nor'easter damaged the road on Thursday

RODANTHE – The N.C. Department of Transportation will reopen one lane of N.C. 12 on Pea Island to northbound traffic at 3 p.m. today, a day earlier than Wednesday’s scheduled reopening.

A one-lane, gravel stretch of N.C. 12 will be reopened for northbound traffic first. As the northbound traffic congestion subsides, southbound traffic will be allowed along the road, with the alternating directions of one-way traffic controlled by an automatic flagger system. The current restrictions will remain in place even when southbound traffic reopens.

Dare County officials will announce when the southbound traffic will be allowed. There is not a timeline for when the road will reopen to southbound traffic.

Northbound traffic was already lined up overnight in anticipation of the road being reopened. So when the road reopens at 3 p.m., there will be heavy congestion. Drivers should be patient, pay attention and drive through the area with caution.

The highway has been closed from the Marc Basnight Bridge to Rodanthe since early Thursday morning when a 1,000-foot section of pavement near the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center was damaged by repeated ocean overwash during a powerful nor’easter.

NCDOT crews started building back the protective sand dune along N.C. 12 after tidal conditions subsided Sunday. The damaged asphalt and grading was also removed, and crews started laying down a mixture of aggregate and gravel to construct the one-lane road.

State transportation crews are working to reconstruct N.C. 12 in its two-lane, paved configuration, but do not have a timeline for when the road will be fully reopened to traffic. NCDOT will announce the full reopening of N.C. 12 in advance of its reopening.

Meanwhile, the emergency ferry route between Rodanthe and Stumpy Point will remain in operation on its 24-hour schedule until traffic congestion on Hatteras Island subsides and officials determine the emergency route is no longer required.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.

***NCDOT***

09/29/2026

NCDOT NC 12 expects to open a temporary one-lane roadway at Pea Island on Wednesday morning, September 30, allowing traffic to leave Hatteras Island and travel north. The temporary roadway will initially be open to northbound traffic only. There is no timeline for when southbound access to Hatteras Island will resume, and entry remains restricted.

Until the roadway opens, emergency ferry service between Rodanthe and Stumpy Point remains the primary direct connection to the mainland. Three ferries are operating, with capacity of approximately 250 vehicles over 24 hours. Due to limited capacity, long waits and significant delays continue. Travelers should be prepared with food, water, medications and other essentials while waiting.

Dare County understands how difficult and frustrating these extended waits have been and appreciates the patience of those affected.

Visitor and non-resident property owner access to Hatteras Island remains restricted. There is no timeline for when visitor access will resume. Priority One and Priority Two individuals with proper credentials may enter under the county's staged reentry process. Entry into the emergency area by residents of Ocracoke Island is authorized.

Reservations are required for Ocracoke-to-mainland ferry service via Swan Quarter or Cedar Island. Call 1-800-BY-FERRY to make a reservation.

For current information on roadway access, emergency ferry service, reentry and other storm-related updates, visit DareNC.gov/Storm.