NC races to repair damaged coastal highway

NCDOT estimates N.C. Highway 12 could be fully reopened sometime in early October, weather permitting.

Posted 3:19 p.m. Sep 9, 2011 — Updated 9:15 p.m. Sep 9, 2011

HATTERAS, N.C. — North Carolina transportation officials say crews are making good progress on repairing breaches to N.C. Highway 12 caused by Hurricane Irene, but the coastal highway is now being battered by the effects of another storm.

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Pieces of a temporary bridge for the largest breach to the highway that connects Hatteras Island to the rest of the Outer Banks began arriving this week. Once assembled, the $2.6 million temporary bridge will span 662 feet.

But even as crews worked on those repairs, the state Transportation Department said other parts of N.C. 12 in Rodanthe and Hatteras were closed because of overwash kicked up by Hurricane Katia. Although the Category 1 storm is not expected to hit land, it's passing close enough to affect the East Coast.

NCDOT estimates that the roadway could be fully reopened sometime in early October, weather permitting.

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