News Release

Cape Hatteras National Seashore announces four storm-recovery projects

Date: October 1, 2020
Contact: Michael Barber, 252-475-9032

Four storm-related repair projects at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) are scheduled to begin over the next two months.

Ocracoke Boat Slip Utility Pedestal Replacement (Ocracoke, NC)
On October 13, Achuti LLC (Raleigh, NC) will begin a project to install 15 new utility pedestals and utility lines at the Seashore’s Silver Lake boat slips on Ocracoke Island. Electrical systems inside the pedestals were damaged by saltwater flooding due to Hurricane Dorian.

The boat docks should reopen in early January 2021.

Old Lighthouse Beach Parking Lot Repair (Buxton, NC)
The parking lot at the former site of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has received damage from many severe weather and ocean overwash events. A project to repair and repave the parking lot will be completed by Achuti LLC. Work is scheduled to begin Monday, November 2.

During the project, the Old Lighthouse Beach parking lot will be closed; however, visitors will continue to have access to parking in the nearby Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach Access parking lot, located just south, or the Buxton Beach Access parking lot which can be accessed by driving down Old Lighthouse Road in Buxton. The project is expected to be completed by the end of November.

Dune Restoration and Cape Hatteras Pier Drive Repair (Frisco, NC)
A project to restore a large section of dune at the east end of Cape Hatteras Pier Drive is scheduled to begin Monday, October 19. DOT Construction, Inc. (Morehead City, NC) expects to finish hauling sand, shaping the dune, and planting American beach grass on the dune by early December 2020.

The area was previously a parking lot that has been severely damaged by storms over the last several years. Given the lot’s proximity to the ocean, it is not sustainable to implement repairs. Therefore, the pavement has been removed and the dune will be rebuilt in the gap formed by the historic parking area. Over the next year, the Seashore will replace the lost parking capacity by enlarging the parking area at the Frisco Beach access, located about 0.3 miles to the south.

Residents and visitors will continue to have access down Cape Hatteras Pier Drive during construction.

Achuti LLC, the same contractor selected to complete the Ocracoke boat slip pedestal replacement and Old Lighthouse Beach parking lot repair projects, is scheduled to begin repairing and repaving Cape Hatteras Pier Drive shortly after the completion of the dune restoration project. The Seashore-owned road was damaged during Hurricane Florence and subsequent severe weather events.