By ART LATHAM

Tracks like up at the ocean to load sand for the new road base. Photo by Michael Halminski.

Irene breached Hatteras Island in several spots, leaving islanders with no land route to the mainland. The N.C. Department of Transportation worked day and night to open N.C. 12 again, refilling breaches to the south and building a temporary bridge on Pea Island. In the interim, the only supply and emergency relief came by DOT ferries. The highway reopened on Oct. 10.

This article was published in the Holiday 2011 issue of Coastwatch.

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