NCDOT sets public hearings on long-term improvements in northern Rodanthe

December 10, 2013 | Local News

The N.C. Department of Transportation will hold public hearings in January regarding the proposed project to implement long-term improvements to Highway 12 in the Rodanthe breach area.

The process to develop long-term solutions for the breaches on Highway 12 is a continuation of work already under way as part of the Bonner Bridge Replacement Project. Phase two of the project includes long-term solutions for the areas damaged by Hurricane Irene in 2011 and again by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The section of Highway 12 at the Rodanthe breach area is considered Phase IIb of the project.

The hearings are scheduled at the following times and places:

Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014:
Ocracoke Community Center, 1009 Irvin Garrish Highway, Ocracoke
Open House: 4 – 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 8:
Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Center, 23186 Myrna Peters Road, Rodanthe
Pre-Hearing Open House: 3 – 6 p.m.

Cape Hatteras Secondary School, 48576 Highway 12, Buxton
Formal Presentation: 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 9:
Dare County Administration Bldg. – Roomm 168, 954 Marshall Collins Drive, Manteo
Pre-Hearing Open House: 5 – 6:30 p.m.
Formal Presentation: 7 p.m.

NCDOT representatives will be available to answer questions and receive comments regarding the two proposed alternatives for the project during the open-house portion of the hearings. Interested citizens may attend at any time during the open-house hours. The same information and maps will be available at all meetings. The public is urged to share their ideas, thoughts, and suggestions with department staff. The opportunity to submit written comments or questions will be provided and is encouraged.

The formal presentations will include of an explanation of the location and design of each proposed alternative, as well as information about the state-federal relationship, the required right of way and relocation requirements and procedures that will be part of the project. Citizens will have the opportunity to comment or ask questions. The presentation and comments will be recorded and a transcript will be prepared.

Comments will be accepted through Friday, Jan. 24, 2014.

Maps displaying the location and design of the project improvements and a copy of the recently released Environmental Assessment (EA) are available for public review at the following seven locations:

1) Dare County Planning and Inspections Satellite Office, 49815 Highway 12, Buxton;
2) the NCDOT Resident Engineer’s Office, 349 Waterplant Road, Unit B, Manteo;
3) the Dare County Library in Manteo, 700 Highway 64/264,
4) the Dare County Library in Hatteras at 57709 Highway 12;
5) the Dare County Library in Kill Devil Hills, 400 Mustian Street;
6) the Fessenden Recreation Center, 46830 NC Highway 12 in Buxton; and
7) the Ocracoke School and Community Library, 225 Back Road, Ocracoke.

Information about plans for Highway 12 south of Bonner Bridge is also available online at: www.ncdot.gov/projects/bonnerbridgephase2/.

Also, visit NCDOT’s N.C. 12 Facebook page for updates at https://www.facebook.com/NCDOT.

For additional information, you may either call the project’s toll-free number: 1-866-803-0529 or contact Drew Joyner, P.E., NCDOT-Human Environment Section at 1598 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1598, by phone at 919-707-6077 or by email: PublicInvolvement2@ncdot.gov.

NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who want to participate in these meetings. Anyone requiring special services should contact Joyner as early as possible, so that arrangements can be made. For persons who speak Spanish and do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, interpretive services will be available at the meeting upon request. For more information, please call 1-800-481-6494 prior to the meeting.

NCDOT awards contract for permanent bridge on Pea Island

In addition, the DOT announced last week that it has awarded a contract to build a permanent bridge on Highway 12 on Pea Island.

The 2.1-mile-long permanent bridge will replace the temporary one that currently stands where Hurricane Irene breached the highway in 2011 and span an area where inlets have historically opened and closed.

The contract was awarded to Parsons Construction Group Inc. of Greenville, S.C. for $79.7 million. Construction on the new bridge can begin as early as Jan. 6, 2014. The new bridge is scheduled to open to traffic in spring 2016.

As part of the bid, the contractor committed to completing the work within 800 calendar days, or approximately two years and two months.

The new bridge will be built parallel to the temporary bridge within the existing easement, and traffic will continue to use the existing bridge during construction. For this reason, construction will have a minimal impact on traffic.