Friday, December 1, 2023
By Kip Tabb | Outer Banks Voice on September 9, 2021
The Task Force is charged with addressing the fate of beleaguered NC12 south of Oregon Inlet. (Photo credit: Dare County NC12 Task Force – Daniel Pullen Photography)
As the NC 12 Task Force continues to consider possible scenarios for maintaining the transportation network with Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, the complexity of the project becomes more apparent.
The new Task Force, which first met in May, was formed toĀ develop a long-range plan to address concerns about the often-perilous state of NC12 south of Oregon Inlet, most notably to make recommendations about seven areas identified as āhotspots.ā
At the Sept. 8 meeting, the Task Forceās stakeholdersā subcommittee planned to look at the hotspot from the south end of Avon to the north end Buxton. But a question soon emerged about whether the north end of Avon ā an area subject to flooding ā should also be categorized as a hotspot.
āI don’t know if this makes any sense, to define a separate a new hotspot, which is the area just north of the pier, all the way to Avon village,ā said Dave Hallac, Superintendent of the National Park Service Outer Banks Group.
Flooding does not necessarily mean an area is a potential hotspot. What is more significant is whether or not the flooding damages the road, said NCDOT Deputy Engineer Win Bridgers.Ā āFlooding on NC 12, overwash and standing water in traffic, it does hinder mobility, but doesn’t destroy the road structure.ā
He added that NCDOT was aware of the problem on the north end of Avon, but noted that at least some of the flooding had little to do with road design.
Looking at the erosion rates and sea level rise, Reide Corbett, Director of the Coastal Studies Institute, pointed out that if one of the goals of the Task Force was to think about how to plan for the future, then expanding the Avon-Buxton hotspot might be necessary.
āAvon has the fastest erosion rate of any of the hotspots,ā he said. āCombined with sea level riseā¦there is a possibilityā¦that the high tide line could be between Highway 12 and Ocean View Drive in nineteen years. Which means that high tide line is potentially a major threat to the integrityā¦of the highway itself.ā
Dare County Manager Bobby Outten explained that the county is moving forward with beach nourishment in that area, and that beach nourishment had proven to be an expensive but effective mitigation tool in protecting infrastructure and property in other parts of the county.
Outten did acknowledge, though, that nourishment was not a long-term solution.
āShort term, we can do beach nourishment,ā he said. āThat could be ten years. That could be fifteen years. I donāt know how long thatās going to last.ā
NCDOT representatives were asked about the possibility of a feasibility study for the north end of Avon. The representatives were noncommittal.
The Task Force also did focus on the Avon to Buxton hotspot at the meeting, basing the discussion on NCDOTās 2015 Feasibility study.
The subcommittee quickly rejected short-term solutions that called for moving the roadbed west, with unanimous agreement that moving the road would not address the issue of ensuring access to the communities in the area.
Another solution that would have built a bridge in the existing right-of-wayĀ for the entire length of road between Avon and Buxton was also rejected,Ā with consensus that in a short amount of time, the bridge would be either on the beach or in the surf zone.
The alternative that was chosen was a combination of two long-term solutions from the study. Although the idea of a bridge extending the entire length of the hotspot was seen as impractical, committee members felt that short bridges at either end of the existing right of way and a longer bridge in Pamlico Sound that would bypass much of the project area was the best option.
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID:
Barnhill Contracting Company will receive sealed proposals for Manns Harbor ā EMS/Fire Facility (EMS-8), Kitty Hawk ā EMS/Fire Facility (EMS-9), Manteo ā Youth Center on January 09, 2024. Times to be given on via addendum #01. See the following SCOPE OF WORK: BP 100 – General Trades, BP 105 – Final Cleaning, BP 205 ā Demolition, BP 390 – Turnkey Concrete, BP 400 – Turnkey Masonry, BP 500 – Turnkey Structural Steel & Misc. Steel, BP 505 – Light Gauge Metal Trusses, BP 740 ā Roofing, BP750 ā Siding, BP 790 – Caulking/Sealants, BP 800 – Turnkey Doors/Frames/Hardware/Toilet Specialties/Accessories/Division 10, BP 840 – Curtainwall/Storefront/Glass/Glazing, BP 925 ā Drywall/Framing, BP 960 – Resilient Flooring/Carpet/Base/Epoxy, BP 980 – Acoustical Ceilings, BP 990 – Painting and Wall Coverings, BP 1230 – Finish Carpentry and Casework, BP 1250 – Window Treatments, BP 2100 – Fire Protection, BP 2200 ā Plumbing, BP 2300 ā HVAC, BP 2600 ā Electrical, BP 3100 ā Earthwork/Turnkey Site, BP 3213- Site Concrete, BP 3290 ā Landscaping. Scopes of work may be added and/or deleted at the discretion of the Construction Manager.
Bid Location and Time: Bid opening will be held in the Barnhill Contracting Rocky Mount Training & GPS Technology Room: 800 Tiffany Bvld, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Time is as follows: January 09, 2024 at 10:00am and 2:00pm. Times per packages to be given on via addendum #01.
Barnhill Contracting Company will receive, open, and read publicly all bids received in person in the Training & GPS Technology Room at the main office and listed with the virtual viewing at the link to be posted on Barnhill’s Plan Room.
Bids will not be accepted from bidders that are not pre-qualified. No facsimile or email submissions are permitted. Sealed bids are to be hand delivered to the bid opening location noted above or mailed Sealed Bids can be delivered before 9:00am the day of the bid to the Barnhill Contracting Company Office at 800 Tiffany Blvd., Suite 200 Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Attention āClint Hardison.ā
The pre-bid meeting will be held in Person & Zoom Meeting on December 06, 2023 at 10:00 am at the Barnhill Contracting’s Rocky Mount Main Conference Room: 800 Tiffany Bvld, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.
The pre-bid meeting link can be located on Barnhill’s online Building Division Plan Room ( https://app.buildingconnected.com/public/54da832ce3edb5050017438b) and below. A preferred brand alternates meeting will be held via the same link at the end of the Prebid meeting.
Bid Documents can be viewed or downloaded through Barnhill’s online Building Division Plan Room (https://app.buildingconnected.com/public/54da832ce3edb5050017438b) after 12/04/2023.
All Bidders are strongly encouraged to include opportunities for HUB participation wherever possible in their respective Bid submission.Ā HUB participation is a part of this contract and must comply with all requirements set forth in the Bid Documents.
The Construction Manager and Owner reserve the right to add pre-qualified bidders. The Construction Manager and Owner reserve the right to reject any and all bids. Should you require additional direction, please call Barnhill Contracting Company, (Clint Hardison – 252-802-0740).
Clint Hardison is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Dare EMS – Phase 2 Pre-Bid Conference
Time: Dec 6, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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Meeting ID: 823 9069 2985
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Comments
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Dumb
Or tell those who own property there that we aren’t wasting any more money on this nonsense and that when the ocean claims their homes that’s it. Sad but true… cost of wanting to live right at the edge of a continent.
Freenusa
It will take alot of bridges over the next years to keep accessibility south of OI. The Jug Handle bridge is the first. IMO the JHB was started before most people knew of the idea and now it is near completion. To keep access to HI it will be like the Fla keys. Bridge, land, bridge ect, then the ferry to ocracoke isalnd, which already is connected by bridges.
Bud
Fact is, thatās what dune lines do, cause and create erosion. Overwash needs to flow, itās vital for the islands.
Dave
Most flooding in North Avon comes from the Sound side during storm surge.