The North Carolina Department of Transportation started a project this morning — Monday, Nov. 11 — designed to reduce the possibility of overwash and standing water on Highway 12 just north and south of the temporary bridge on Pea Island.
The project, which involves raising and leveling the elevation of the road, is scheduled to be complete by the end of the month, weather permitting.
Highway 12 is banked north and south of the temporary bridge with the lower side of the road on the oceanside. Occasional overwash has taken place this fall and in previous years at this location near New Inlet. Overwash historically has been the result of various factors, such as off-shore storms raising wave heights, high tides and full moons, pressure gradients and heavy rains.
While ocean overwash is not a regular occurrence and has not resulted in any recent closure of the highway, the department has had to shut down a single lane of the road in the past in order for traffic to safely pass through the area.
NCDOT is working with Parsons Construction Group and its paving subcontractor, RPC Contracting, to level the road surface and raise the elevation of the road at this location up to 18 inches on the ocean side (northbound lane) and six inches on the soundside (southbound lane).
One lane of N.C. 12 will be closed while work is taking place. Flag crews will direct traffic through the site.
Motorists are advised to use caution while traveling in the area and to expect delays. NCDOT reminds motorists to watch signs for construction information, stay alert and obey the posted speed limit.
For real-time travel information at any time, call 511, visit the NCDOT traffic website or follow NCDOT on Twitter. Another option is NCDOT Mobile, a phone-friendly version of the NCDOT website. To access it, type “m.ncdot.gov” into the browser of your smartphone. Then, bookmark it to save for future reference.
