Greenville New Bern Washington, NC, September 27, 2026 — The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has implemented 24-hour emergency ferry service to connect Stumpy Point and Rodanthe. This measure comes as a direct response to extensive closures on Highway 12, a vital route for coastal communities.

According to the NCDOT, Highway 12 is currently impassable in two key locations. Significant damage has rendered the section between the Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe closed to traffic. Additionally, the northernmost portion of Ocracoke is also inaccessible via the highway.

The cause of these disruptions has been identified as damage sustained from a recent nor’easter that swept through the region. The storm’s impact necessitated immediate action to ensure some level of connectivity for the affected areas.

While the emergency ferry service is operating around the clock, access to Rodanthe via this ferry route is not yet open to the general public. Currently, ferry transport to Rodanthe is restricted to specific groups. These include essential personnel who are critical for maintaining services, business vendors whose operations are vital to the local economy, and permanent residents of Hatteras Island.

The NCDOT is managing the ferry operations to provide this critical lifeline while repairs to Highway 12 are assessed and undertaken. Further information regarding the status of Highway 12 and any changes to ferry access policies is expected to be released by the department as assessments continue.


Story summarized from the original created by WITN Web Team on www.witn.com, see more information here.

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