Solving Access for N.C. 12 in Dare County (SAND)

The Solving Access for N.C.12 in Dare County (SAND) Plan is an in-depth study seeking to propose improvements to an approximately 11-mile stretch of N.C. 12 on Pea Island, between the Marc Basnight Bridge and the Rodanthe "Jug Handle" Bridge in Dare County.

May 2026 Update:

Thank you to everyone that attended the Open House Public Meetings in April and/or provided your comments and survey responses; the survey for this stage of outreach is now closed. There will be further opportunities to provide input later this year.

NCDOT accepts comments throughout all planning, design and construction phases of project development.

To leave us a comment, please email the comment or question to NC-12-access@PublicInput.com

Leave a voicemail by calling (984) 205-6615 and enter code 10888. Your voicemail will be transcribed as a comment.

Please respond to all questions in each of the 4 sections.

Current Use of N.C. 12 | Looking Forward | Access | Concluding Thoughts

1. Where are you primarily located?

Northern Outer Banks (Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, etc)

Hatteras Island

Ocracoke Island

Mainland NC

Other

Closed to responses

2. How often do you personally experience delays or closures on N.C. 12 between Oregon Inlet and Rodanthe due to inclement weather and related events (overwash, flooding, erosion, sand blocking the road, etc)?

Never

1-2 times per year

3-5 times per year

More than 5 times per year

Closed to responses

3. When N.C. 12 is closed or restricted, which impacts are most significant to you? (Select up to three)

Emergency access

Work or school travel

Medical appointments

Deliveries or daily needs/supplies

Evacuation/Storm Preparedness

Tourism or business revenue

Ferry reliance

Other

Closed to responses

4. When N.C. 12 is closed, what do you typically do? (select all that apply)

Delay travel

Use ferry

Cancel trips entirely

Work remotely/stay home

Detour (if available)

Other

Closed to responses

5. How satisfied are you with recent temporary measures (such as dune repairs or sandbags) to maintain access along N.C. 12 ?

Very dissatisfied

Dissatisfied

Neutral

Satisfied

Very satisfied

Closed to responses

6. Which best describes how you use N.C. 12? (select all that apply)

Year-round resident

Seasonal resident

Business owner/operator

Commute to work but live elsewhere

Frequent visitor

Occasional visitor

Freight/delivery driver

Emergency services

Other

Closed to responses

7. Over the next five years,how acceptable would it be to continue using temporary solutions that may involve occasional lane closures, until permanent fixes are in place?

Not acceptable

Slightly unacceptable

Neutral

Acceptable

Very acceptable

Closed to responses

8. Which long-term outcomes are most important to you? (Rank your top three)

Closed to responses

9. How supportive are you of using long bridges in Pamlico Sound to bypass sections of N.C. 12 that are vulnerable to damage?

Strongly oppose

Oppose

Neutral

Support

Strongly support

Closed to responses

10. How supportive are you of improving existing "on-island" roadways that could include new short bridge sections?

Strongly oppose

Oppose

Neutral

Support

Strongly support

Closed to responses

11. How supportive are you of using nature-based solutions such as dunes, marshes, living shorelines, marsh/oyster features alongside engineered bridge and road solutions?

Strongly oppose

Oppose

Neutral

Support

Strongly support

Closed to responses

12. In your view, how important is minimizing impacts on Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and Cape Hatteras National Seashore habitats when considering future road solutions?

Not important

Slightly important

Moderately important

Important

Very important

Closed to responses

Some concepts could involve maintaining reliable access to communities while limiting vehicle access in environmentally sensitive areas.

13. How do you currently use Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and Cape Hatteras National Seashore? (Select all that apply)

Birding/wildlife viewing

Fishing

Beach access/walking

Kayaking or paddling

Photography

Hiking or trails

Visitor Center

Educational/research

Do not use

Other

Closed to responses

14. How supportive would you be of a transportation option that gives reliable access to southern Outer Banks communities, but does not keep public vehicle access to northern sections of Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge?

Very supportive

Somewhat supportive

Neutral / depends

Somewhat opposed

Strongly opposed

Need more information

Do not wish to respond

Closed to responses

15. How do you currently use the Bonner Bridge Fishing Pier? (Select all that apply)

I fish from the pier regularly

I fish from the pier occasionally

I visit the pier for recreation or sightseeing (not fishing)

I use the pier for photography or wildlife viewing

I bring visitors or guests to the pier

I do not currently use the pier

I was not aware the pier is open to the public

Other

Closed to responses

16. If coastal conditions, safety concerns, or long-term access planning require changes to the Bonner Bridge Fishing Pier in the future, which statement best reflects your perspective?

I would support changes or removal of the pier

I would support changes if public fishing access is maintained elsewhere

I would support changes only if equal or improved fishing access is provided

I would need more information before forming an opinion

I would be concerned about any loss or reduction of pier access

I would strongly oppose changes that limit or remove current pier access

Neutral

Do not wish to respond

Closed to responses

17. What would be most important to you if changes to the pier were considered? (Select all that apply)

Replacement fishing access within the project area

ADA-accessible fishing opportunities

Parking and pedestrian access

Safety and maintenance improvements

Coordination with nearby refuge or park access

Advance notice and phased transition process

Other

Closed to responses

18. What is the most critically important issue to you when considering the future of N.C. 12.

Closed for Comments

19. Optional : Please provide any additional comments you may have regarding N.C. 12 access, refuge and seashore use, or coastal resilience strategies.

Closed for Comments

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Solving Access for N.C. 12 in Dare County (SAND)

Solving Access for N.C. 12 in Dare County (SAND)

Step 1

1. Where are you primarily located?

2. How often do you personally experience delays or closures on N.C. 12 between Oregon Inlet and Rodanthe due to inclement weather and related events (overwash, flooding, erosion, sand blocking the road, etc)?

3. When N.C. 12 is closed or restricted, which impacts are most significant to you? (Select up to three)

4. When N.C. 12 is closed, what do you typically do? (select all that apply)

5. How satisfied are you with recent temporary measures (such as dune repairs or sandbags) to maintain access along N.C. 12 ?

6. Which best describes how you use N.C. 12? (select all that apply)

7. Over the next five years,how acceptable would it be to continue using temporary solutions that may involve occasional lane closures, until permanent fixes are in place?

8. Which long-term outcomes are most important to you? (Rank your top three)

9. How supportive are you of using long bridges in Pamlico Sound to bypass sections of N.C. 12 that are vulnerable to damage?

10. How supportive are you of improving existing "on-island" roadways that could include new short bridge sections?

11. How supportive are you of using nature-based solutions such as dunes, marshes, living shorelines, marsh/oyster features alongside engineered bridge and road solutions?

12. In your view, how important is minimizing impacts on Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and Cape Hatteras National Seashore habitats when considering future road solutions?

13. How do you currently use Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and Cape Hatteras National Seashore? (Select all that apply)

14. How supportive would you be of a transportation option that gives reliable access to southern Outer Banks communities, but does not keep public vehicle access to northern sections of Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge?

15. How do you currently use the Bonner Bridge Fishing Pier? (Select all that apply)

16. If coastal conditions, safety concerns, or long-term access planning require changes to the Bonner Bridge Fishing Pier in the future, which statement best reflects your perspective?

17. What would be most important to you if changes to the pier were considered? (Select all that apply)

18. What is the most critically important issue to you when considering the future of N.C. 12.

19. Optional : Please provide any additional comments you may have regarding N.C. 12 access, refuge and seashore use, or coastal resilience strategies.