North Carolina Highway 12 Closed Indefinitely on Pea Island After Storm Damage

Norfolk Portsmouth Newport News, VA, September 24, 2026 — A critical section of North Carolina’s Highway 12 on Pea Island has been closed indefinitely following significant damage sustained during a recent severe storm. The closure impacts access to Hatteras Island, a popular tourist destination and home to numerous residents.

Officials confirmed that nearly 500 feet of the roadway has been undermined and severely damaged. The extent of the destruction has prompted an immediate closure of the highway, cutting off direct vehicle access to Hatteras Island. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is assessing the situation, but a timeline for repairs and reopening the road has not yet been established.

The indefinite closure raises concerns for both local communities and the tourism industry, which relies heavily on seasonal traffic. Pea Island is a vital segment of the Outer Banks’s infrastructure, and its closure often leads to significant disruptions. The NCDOT has stated that crews are on-site evaluating the damage, but the complexity of repairing a section of highway undermined by storm surge and erosion means that a definitive reopening date cannot be provided at this time.

Further updates on the repair efforts and expected timelines are anticipated as the assessment progresses. The damage underscores the ongoing vulnerability of coastal infrastructure to extreme weather events.

Story summarized from the original created by Will Thomas on www.wtkr.com, see more information here.