Dune breaches keep Highway 12 on Hatteras Island & Ocracoke closed

OUTER BANKS, N.C. (WITN) - Though Erin is moving away from the NC coast, its impacts are still lingering and keeping parts of the Outer Banks’ major highway closed.

Hwy 12 will stay closed at the Marc Basnight Bridge and on the north end of Ocracoke at this time.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation says this morning’s high tide opened up two new dune breaches along Highway 12.

Officials say the first breach is 200 feet at the Canal Zone just south of the Oregon Inlet.

A second breach is 30 feet in a dune at the Pea Island Visitor Center.

The DOT also says there’s more overwash at Buxton, North of Hatteras and on the north end of Ocracoke Island.

Crews are out this morning clearing and rebuilding the dune and say that there’s no indication of damage to the pavement.

No word has been received yet on when the highway is likely to be reopened.