Resurfacing underway of Whalebone Junction, Nags Head Causeway
The second phase of the resurfacing of U.S. 158, U.S. 64 and N.C. 12 at Whalebone Junction and on the Nags Head Causeway began this week.
Contractors have been working on a multi-year project to replace the tarmac along the main highway on the northern Outer Banks from the Wright Memorial Bridge in Kitty Hawk to the Melvin Daniels Bridge since late 2021.
The project has been done in stages from south to north over the spring and fall to avoid causing traffic issues during the summer.
The first phase at Whalebone Junction involved replacing a pipe culvert under U.S. 158 and two crossline pipes at the intersection of Cape Hatteras National Park Road (which carries N.C. 12 on Bodie Island) and South Virginia Dare Trail, also known as The Beach Road.
That work was completed earlier this month.
Now crews are grinding off the old pavement and putting a new layer down on U.S. 158 and U.S. 64 between Gray Eagle Street and what is also referred to as “The Little Bridge” on the causeway, the stretch of N.C. 12 at the Whalebone Intersection and along adjacent side streets.
During this phase, single lane closures will be in place where the resurfacing work is taking place. All work in the Whalebone area is expected to be complete by mid-November, weather permitting.
Just down U.S. 64, work to take the bouncy ride out of the Washington Baum Bridge over Roanoke Sound resumed in September.
Crews shut down the eastbound lanes of the U.S. 64 bridge between Nags Head and Manteo near Pirates Cove and reduced traffic to one lane in each direction.
The westbound lanes were leveled off last offseason, and this year’s work is slated for completion by next May.
Repaving of U.S. 64 west of the Melvin Daniels Bridge to the Midway intersection on Roanoke Island is not expected to happen until after the Baum Bridge work is finished.
The $4.5 million Slash Creek Bridge replacement project has started in Hatteras Village, which will replace the 68-year-old wooden structure that carries N.C. 12 with a two-span cored slab bridge.
The work also includes drainage improvements and the leveling and resurfacing of Eagle Pass Road. Pipes running under Eagle Pass Road were replaced last month.
N.C. 12 is closed to through traffic, with Eagle Pass Road serving as a detour between the northern end of the village and the ferry dock.
Local businesses and attractions have taken it upon themselves to erect hand painted signs directing visitors on how to find them during the project that is expected to be completed next May.
The William B. Umstead Bridge over Croatan Sound remains closed to travelers until possibly the end of the year as part of a $33 million bridge preservation project.
The bridge, known by some as the Old Manns Harbor Bridge, connects Manns Harbor and the north end of Roanoke Island.
The full project is not expected to be completed until 2026.
