New, longer turn lanes under construction at Bodie Island Lighthouse/Coquina Beach intersection on N.C. 12

Improvements to an intersection along N.C. 12 on Bodie Island are underway to add longer and new turn lanes, with crews scheduled to pave the Coquina Beach/Bodie Island Lighthouse Road intersection over the weekend.

Crews from Barnhill Construction have been been working since late fall on adding a northbound right turn lane into Coquina Beach, extending the southbound right turn lane on to Bodie Island Lighthouse Road, and longer left turn lanes in both directions of N.C. 12.

The 55 mph speed limit in the area and the high volume of traffic and frequency of vehicles turning into the two popular visitor areas, was cited by the National Park Service in 2021 when seeking comment on the environmental impacts of the project.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the North Carolina Department of Transportation worked together on the project designed to improve highway, visitor and employee safety.

NCDOT advises drivers to watch for unmarked pavement, lane closures and expect delays in the work zone while the paving takes place on Saturday.