STORM UPDATE: ERNESTO CLOSES NC 12 TO ALL BUT 4X4 VEHICLES

Ernesto was not even a hurricane when it made landfall, but it was enough to get the National Park Service to put out the statement below midday on Fri. This statement would not have been necessary and passage across Oregon Inlet would be open to all vehicles if there was a long bridge in place bypassing NC 12’s overwash areas and Pea Island Refuge.

National Park Service News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 1, 2006
CONTACT: 252-473-2111

OUTER BANKS GROUP OPENINGS AND CLOSURES

Sections of Highway 12, through Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge from Bonner Bridge south to Rodanthe, are currently limited to high profile and off-road vehicles due to standing rainwater reported at 6 to 8 inches deep. Those traveling outside the area are asked to check road conditions at www.ncsmartlink.org for NCDOT Roadway conditions and http://virginiadot.org for Virginia travel information.