NCDOT restarts remnant sandbag removal project in northern Rodanthe

After the Rodanthe Bridge was completed in 2022, approximately 1,200 feet of shoreline just north of the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge boundary still contained the remnants of sandbags from multiple sandbag projects that were conducted over the years.

In March of 2024, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) removed the old sandbag remnants from 110 linear feet of beach in the Mirlo Beach area of northern Rodanthe, but had to suspend operations due to the shorebird nesting season.

On Monday, January 27, NCDOT restarted the cleanup operation, and as of this week, a large excavator is unearthing remnant sandbags from the beach, while sandbag fragments are being removed by hand from the excavated sand.

“It’s a very labor-intensive process, but NCDOT anticipates the remnant sandbags can be entirely removed this winter before the shorebird nesting season starts,” said Tim Hass, Communications Officer for NCDOT Division One.

The ongoing work does not affect traffic on N.C. Highway 12, as this section of Hatteras Island is now bypassed by the Rodanthe Bridge.