With bridge project, concerns arise about power and communications to Hatteras and Ocracoke

Last week, the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management agreed to allow NCDOT to place sandbags at the north end of Rodanthe at Mirlo Beach. The permit is seen as important for the protection of the subdivision from changes in the shoreline that will certainly occur when the sandbags and dunes, and even the road, are removed from […]

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When bridge is complete, part of NC may return to nature

The “S-curves” north of Rodanthe, one of the most troubled sections of the ribbon of highway connecting Hatteras Island with the mainland, may soon be allowed to return to its natural state. Sometime in March, if the weather holds and the North Carolina Department of Transportation meets its schedule, the span informally known as the […]

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NC12 subcommittee cites Canal Zone and Ocracoke as top priorities

After six months of meetings, a subcommittee of the NC12 Task Force has reached a consensus on what areas of the vulnerable road that connects Ocracoke and Hatteras with the northern Outer Banks should be the top priorities for keeping the transportation link open. At its Jan. 13 meeting, the subcommittee focused on five areas of concern: […]

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Bridge will bypass Pea Island, but refuge access to remain

Sometime soon, possibly before spring, the 2.4-mile “jug handle” bridge bypassing the troubled S-curves just north of Rodanthe will open to traffic, and after it does, folks will still be able to access the national wildlife refuge here. The bridge, with a projected 100-year lifespan, is seen as the only practical solution to maintaining the […]

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Student study finds Buxton Woods a healthy, valued reserve

Buxton Woods is alive and well. That is one of the conclusions of a study of the state coastal reserve and dedicated nature preserve conducted by University of North Carolina Chapel Hill undergraduate students and presented Dec. 2 to the Hatteras Island community at the Fessenden Center. The students, participating in the Coastal Studies Institute’s […]

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Researchers eye alternative energy to power state ferries

North Carolina’s ferry system has a fleet of 21 vehicle ferries, making it either tied with Washington as the largest state system in the country or the second largest — it really depends the measuring stick — and researchers are now looking at how to more sustainably power those vessels’ near-constant runs. “(Washington is) the […]

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For NC 12 Task Force, one big challenge is Ocracoke South Ferry Terminal

As the NC12 Task Force continues to address how to keep open the only road connecting Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands with the rest of the world, consensus is growing within the group that short-term and temporary fixes will not solve the problem. At its Oct. 14 meeting in the Dare County Administration building, the working […]

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From ORVs to rising seas

Dave Hallac talks of the treasures and challenges of OBX Parks It’s been almost seven years since Superintendent David Hallac took the reins of the Outer Banks Group (OBG) of National Park Service sites. Consisting of Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS), the Wright Brothers Memorial and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, the sites have seen near record […]

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