Reprinted from Island Free Press
Construction on the Hatteras Village pedestrian and multi-use pathway has been making big strides in the past few weeks, and the village’s “loop” pathway that connects Eagle Pass Road and N.C. 12 is estimated to be complete by July 13, per a recent update from project organizers.
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The paved pathway along Eagle Pass Road is up and running, with just a little more work to complete on the concrete aprons that border the bridge.
Meanwhile, three contractors are working on the N.C. 12 portion of the project, with a goal of connecting the highway side of the loop, from the southern entrance to Eagle Pass Road to the Hatterasman Restaurant, by mid-July.
The main contractor for the project is Barnhill Contracting, but the company has enlisted two subcontractors to assist with reaching the summertime deadline.
Hatchell Concrete of Manteo is also working on paving the pathway, while Millstone Marine Construction of Harbinger is focusing on the more intricate work along the bridges, such as on Slash Creek Bridge.
“Hatchell (completed paving work) from the Hatterasman to the (Slash Creek) bridge today, so they’re really moving quickly,” said Hatteras Village Community Center District chairperson and longtime advocate for the project, Dennis Robinson. “The Eagle Pass Road (portion) is pretty much done, and they just need to finish up the aprons to the bridge.”
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Eventually, the contractors will meet somewhere in the middle of N.C. 12, and after the loop is complete, they can focus on the stretch of pathway that will run parallel to N.C. 12 in the northern section of Hatteras village.
Adjustments will also need to be made to the pathway in front of the Hatteras Village Library and the post office, which may not be completed by July, but the estimated date for all work to be complete on the 3.1-mile pathway is Aug. 11.
“It’s happening so rapidly, and it’s really been a wonderful project to work on,” said Robinson. “It’s been fun to see so many people already using (the pathway) on Eagle Pass Road.”
No major road closures or traffic delays are expected in the weeks ahead, however, temporary lane closures on N.C. 12 may occur as paving work continues.
The $1,165,027 pathway project, which has been in the works for roughly 15 years, is being financed through a number of sources that took more than a decade of efforts to establish.
The initial planning for the multi-use pathway in Hatteras village began in 2006, alongside a corresponding project to establish the Outer Banks Scenic Byway. The Outer Banks Scenic Byway was officially completed and launched in 2016.
The Hatteras Pathway project received a $342,640 Tourism Impact Grant in 2020, which represents about a third of the total project cost. An additional $342,000 or so was collected through the village’s designation as a special tax district, and earlier in 2021, the Hatteras Village Civic Association, through Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative, received a $360,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program.
The initial surveying for the pathway began in March of 2021, and then contractors began work on sawing and removals, attending to storm drains, and excavation and grading projects. The ongoing concrete-pouring portion of the project will take a total of about 63 days to complete, and will also coincide with the construction of bridges and guardrails.
The Island Free Press will post updates on the project as it progresses in the weeks to come. In the meantime, a detailed map of the upcoming project can be viewed here.
This story is provided courtesy of the Island Free Press, a digital newspaper covering Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. Coastal Review is partnering with the Free Press to provide readers with more environmental and lifestyle stories of interest along our coast.
