NCDOT hopes to reopen NC Highway 12 after closure

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — State Department of Transportation work crews are hoping a receding tide will help them decide whether to reopen N.C. Highway 12.

The link between North Carolina's Outer Banks and the mainland reopened from the Oregon Inlet Bridge to Rodanthe Tuesday after being closed since Monday evening due to overwash. High tide on Tuesday around 7:30 p.m. pushed water and sand back onto the road, leading crews to close the same section of road Tuesday night.

NCDOT planned to reassess the situation Wednesday morning and open the road as soon as possible.

Only one direction of traffic could use the affected stretch of N.C. 12 at one time. Motorists will be escorted by a pilot vehicle and law enforcement officials have set up checkpoints.