Traffic may be impacted during Community Day and Run the Rodanthe Bridge events on April 9

Two events will take place on the Jug Handle Bridge on Saturday, April 9, before it opens to vehicles, and traffic may be impacted in the surrounding Rodanthe area throughout the day.

The first-ever Run the Rodanthe Bridge 5-mile and 5K race will be held from 8:00 a.m. until noon, before a 1:00 p.m. Community Day event where the public can walk or ride a bike on the new structure.

“Due to the Bridge Run this Saturday, April 9, there will be traffic interruptions on Hwy 12,” stated Run the Rodanthe Bridge race organizers in an emailed update. “The race begins at 8:00 a.m. [and] during the race, the southbound lane of N.C. 12 in Rodanthe will be closed, with traffic alternating directions in the northbound lane. Motorists in the area should expect congestion along N.C. 12 in and around Rodanthe during the day’s events, and should factor it into their travel time.”

“The area will be monitored by the Sheriff’s Department and race volunteers to move traffic as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Only registered participants and race volunteers will be able to access the bridge during the Run the Rodanthe Bridge race, which is a fundraiser for the Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Civic Association. Registration for the event is currently closed, as the race has reached its capacity.

At 1:00 p.m., however, local officials will make brief remarks at the southern end of the bridge, and the Jug Handle Bridge will be opened to the public for pedestrian and bicycle access until 5:00 p.m. Please note that for safety reasons, scooters, skateboards, and rollerblades will not be allowed on the bridge during the Community Day event.

Parking for events will be available at the Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Center, and at the Rodanthe beach access parking lot. Parking and access at the north end of the bridge will not be available.

The Rodanthe Bridge is a 2.4-mile bridge over Pamlico Sound that will bypass one of the most vulnerable sections of N.C. Highway 12. It will open to vehicular traffic sometime in mid-April.