Solving Access for N.C. 12 in Dare County (SAND)
Solving Access for N.C. 12 in Dare County (SAND)
The Solving Access for N.C.12 in Dare County (SAND) Plan is an in-depth study seeking to propose improvements to an approximately 11-mile stretch of N.C. 12 on Pea Island, between the Marc Basnight Bridge and the Rodanthe "Jug Handle" Bridge in Dare County.
This site is intended to be used to gather feedback. The main project page can be found here: NCDOT: Solving Access for N.C. 12 in Dare County (SAND) Plan
Step 1
May 2026 Update:
Thank you to everyone that attended the Open House Public Meetings in April and/or provided your comments and survey responses; the survey for this stage of outreach is now closed. There will be further opportunities to provide input later this year.
NCDOT accepts comments throughout all planning, design and construction phases of project development.
To leave us a comment, please email the comment or question to NC-12-access@PublicInput.com
Or
Leave a voicemail by calling (984) 205-6615 and enter code 10888. Your voicemail will be transcribed as a comment.
Please respond to all questions in each of the 4 sections.
Current Use of N.C. 12 | Looking Forward | Access | Concluding Thoughts
1. Where are you primarily located?
2. How often do you personally experience delays or closures on N.C. 12 between Oregon Inlet and Rodanthe due to inclement weather and related events (overwash, flooding, erosion, sand blocking the road, etc)?
3. When N.C. 12 is closed or restricted, which impacts are most significant to you? (Select up to three)
4. When N.C. 12 is closed, what do you typically do? (select all that apply)
5. How satisfied are you with recent temporary measures (such as dune repairs or sandbags) to maintain access along N.C. 12 ?
6. Which best describes how you use N.C. 12? (select all that apply)
7. Over the next five years,how acceptable would it be to continue using temporary solutions that may involve occasional lane closures, until permanent fixes are in place?
8. Which long-term outcomes are most important to you? (Rank your top three)
9. How supportive are you of using long bridges in Pamlico Sound to bypass sections of N.C. 12 that are vulnerable to damage?
10. How supportive are you of improving existing "on-island" roadways that could include new short bridge sections?
11. How supportive are you of using nature-based solutions such as dunes, marshes, living shorelines, marsh/oyster features alongside engineered bridge and road solutions?
12. In your view, how important is minimizing impacts on Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and Cape Hatteras National Seashore habitats when considering future road solutions?
Some concepts could involve maintaining reliable access to communities while limiting vehicle access in environmentally sensitive areas.
13. How do you currently use Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and Cape Hatteras National Seashore? (Select all that apply)
14. How supportive would you be of a transportation option that gives reliable access to southern Outer Banks communities, but does not keep public vehicle access to northern sections of Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge?
15. How do you currently use the Bonner Bridge Fishing Pier? (Select all that apply)
16. If coastal conditions, safety concerns, or long-term access planning require changes to the Bonner Bridge Fishing Pier in the future, which statement best reflects your perspective?
17. What would be most important to you if changes to the pier were considered? (Select all that apply)
